Organic semiconducting layers

ABSTRACT

An organic semiconducting layer formulation, which comprises: an organic binder which has a permittivity, ε, at 1,000 Hz of 3.3 or less; and a polyacene compound of Formula: A: wherein: each of R 1 , R 2 , R 3 , R 4 , R 5 , R 6 , R 7 , R 8 , R 9 , R 10 , R 11  and R 12 , which may be the same or different, independently represents hydrogen; an optionally substituted C 1 -C 40  carbyl or hydrocarbyl group; an optionally substituted C 1 -C 40  alkoxy group; an optionally substituted C 6 -C 40  aryloxy group; an optionally substituted C 7 -C 40  alkylaryloxy group; an optionally substituted C 2 -C 40  alkoxycarbonyl group; an optionally substituted C 7 -C 40  aryloxycarbonyl group; a cyano group (—CN); a carbamoyl group (—C(═O)NII 2 ); a haloformyl group (—C(═O)—X, wherein X represents a halogen atom); a formyl group (—C(═O)—H); an isocyano group; an isocyanate group; a thiocyanate group or a thioisocyanate group; an optionally substituted amino group; a hydroxy group; a nitro group; a CF 3  group; a halo group (Cl, Br, F); or an optionally substituted silyl group; and wherein independently each pair of R 2  said R 3  and/or R 8  and R 9 , may be cross-bridged to form a C 4 -C 40  saturated or unsaturated ring, which saturated or unsaturated ring may be intervened by an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group shown by formula —N(R a )— (wherein R a  is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group), or may optionally be substituted; and wherein one or more of the carbon atoms of the polyacene skeleton may optionally be substituted by a heteroatom selected from N, P, As, O, S, Se and Te; and wherein independently any two or more of the substituent R 1 —R 12  which are located on adjacent ring positions of the polyacene may, together, optionally constitute a further C 4 -C 40  saturated or unsaturated ring optionally interrupted by O, S or —N(R a ) where R a  is as defined above) or an aromatic ring system, fused to the polyacene; and wherein n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, also claimed is an electronic device, particularly an organic field effect transistor comprising the organic semiconductor layer formulation.

The present invention relates to an organic semiconducting layer formulation, a layer comprising the same, a process for preparing the formulation and layer and electronic devices (including organic field effect transistors (OFETs)) comprising the same.

In recent years, there has been development of organic semiconducting materials in order to produce more versatile, lower cost electronic devices. Such materials find application in a wide range of devices or apparatus, including organic field effect transistors (OFETs), organic light emitting diodes (OLEDs), photodetectors, photovoltaic (PV) cells, sensors, memory elements and logic circuits to name just a few. The organic semiconducting materials are typically present in the electronic device in the form of a thin layer, for example less than 1 micron thick.

Pentacene has shown promise as an organic semiconducting material. Pentacene has been described as requiring a highly crystalline structure in order to provide a molecular orientation which results in good charge mobility. Thus, in the prior art, thin films of pentacene have been vapour deposited, due in part to the fact that pentacene is rather insoluble in common solvents. However, vapour deposition requires expensive and sophisticated equipment. In view of the latter problem, one approach has been to apply a solution containing a precursor pentacene and then chemically converting, for example by heat, the precursor compound into pentacene. However, the latter method is also complex and it is difficult to control in order to obtain the necessary ordered structure for good charge mobility.

Soluble pentacene compounds have recently been described in the prior art as organic semiconducting compounds, see for example US 2003/0116755. A (Takahashi) and U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,029 (Anthony). The use of pentacenes in FETs has been suggested in WO 03/016599 (Asahi), in which a solution of a soluble pentacene was deposited on a substrate and the solvent evaporated to form a thin film of the pentacene. However, soluble pentacenes have been described in U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,029 and WO 03/016599 as still requiring a highly crystalline structure in the thin film for acceptable charge mobility, especially when used in FETs, which means that the pentacenes must still be deposited in a controlled way. Thus, the prior art is careful not to dilute the pentacene in any way, otherwise it would be expected to disrupt the crystalline structure of the pentacene and hence reduce charge mobility.

Improved charge mobility is one goal of new electronic devices. Another goal is improved stability and integrity of the organic semiconductor layer. A way potentially to improve organic semiconductor layer stability and integrity in devices would be to include the organic semiconducting component in an organic binder. However, whenever an organic semiconducting component is combined with a binder it is effectively “diluted” by the binder and a reduction of charge mobility is to be expected. Among other things, diluting an organic semiconductor by mixing with binders disrupts the molecular order in the semiconducting layer. Diluting an organic semiconducting component in the channel of an OFET for example is particularly problematic as any disruption of the orbital overlap between molecules in the immediate vicinity of the gate insulator (the first few molecular layers) is expected to reduce mobility. Electrons or holes are then forced to extend their path into the bulk of the organic semiconductor, which is undesirable. Certain organic semiconducting materials are expected to be more susceptible than others to the effects of use in a binder. Since pentacenes have been taught as requiring highly ordered structures for useful charge mobility, it has not previously been considered desirable to include pentacenes with binders. In WO 03/030278 (Philips) it was attempted to use binders but there it was shown that a gradual reduction of FET mobility occurs when a (precursor) pentacene is mixed with increasing amounts of binder, even with amounts of less than 5% binder.

Certain low polarity binder resins are described in WO 02/45184 (Avecia) for use with organic semiconductors in FETs. However, a reduction in charge mobility is still expected when the semiconductor is diluted in the binder.

Among the objects of the present invention is the aim to reduce or overcome the disadvantages in organic semiconducting layers as described above.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided an organic semiconducting layer formulation, which layer formulation comprises an organic binder which has a permittivity, ε, at 1,000 Hz of 3.3 or less; and a polyacene compound of Formula A:

wherein each of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₅, R₆, R₇, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁ and R₁₂, which may be the same or different independently represents hydrogen; an optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group; an optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ alkoxy group; an optionally substituted C₆-C₄₀ aryloxy group; an optionally substituted C₇-C₄₀ alkylaryloxy group; an optionally substituted C₂-C₄₀ alkoxycarbonyl group; an optionally substituted C₇-C₄₀ aryloxycarbonyl group; a cyano group (—CN); a carbamoyl group (—C(═O)NH₂); a haloformyl group (—C(═O)—X, wherein X represents a halogen atom); a formyl group (—C(═O)—H); an isocyano group; an isocyanate group; a thiocyanate group or a thioisocyanate group; an optionally substituted amino group; a hydroxy group; a nitro group; a CF₃ group; a halo group (Cl, Br, F); or an optionally substituted silyl group; and

wherein independently each pair of R₂ and R₃ and/or R₈ and R₉, may be cross-bridged to form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, which saturated or unsaturated ring may be intervened by an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group shown by formula —N(R_(a))— (wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or an optionally substituted hydrocarbon group), or may optionally be substituted; and

wherein one or more of the carbon atoms of the polyacene skeleton may optionally be substituted by a heteroatom selected from N, P, As, O, S, Se and Te; and

wherein independently any two or more of the substituents R₁—R₁₂ which are located on adjacent ring positions of the polyacene may, together, optionally constitute a further C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring optionally interrupted by O, S or —N(R_(a)) where R_(a) is as defined above) or an aromatic ring system, fused to the polyacene; and wherein

n is 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4 preferably n is 0, 1 or 2, most preferably n is 0 or 2 that is the polyacene compound is a pentacene compound (n=2) or a ‘pseudo pentacene’ (n=0) compound.

More preferably, the pentacene compound is a compound selected from any one of Compound Groups 1 to 9 or isomers thereof wherein: Compound Group 1 is Represented by Formula 1:

Compound Group 2 is Represented by Formula 2:

Compound Group 3 is Represented by Formula 3:

Compound Group 4 is Represented by Formula 4:

Compound Group 5 is Represented by Formula 5:

Compound Group 6 is Represented by Formula 6:

Compound Group 7 is Represented by Formula 7:

Compound Group 8 is Represented by Formula 8:

Compound Group 9 is Represented by the Formula 9;

and wherein, in the case of Compound Group 1 R₆ and R₁₀, in the case of Compound Group 2 R₅ and R₁₄, in the case of Compound Group 3 R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀, in the case of Compound Group 4 R₂ and R₃, in the case of Compound Group 5 R₂, R₃, R₁₁, and R₁₂, in the case of Compound Group 6 R₂ and R₉, in the case of Compound Group 7 R₅, R₇, R₁₂ and R₁₄, in case of Group 8 R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇ and R₁₈, and in the case of Group 9 R₂, R₃, R₇, R₈, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇, each independently may be the different and each independently represents: H; an optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group; an optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ alkoxy group; an optionally substituted C₆-C₄₀ aryloxy group; an optionally substituted C₇-C₄₀ alkylaryloxy group; an optionally substituted C₂-C₄₀ alkoxycarbonyl group; an optionally substituted C₇-C₄₀ aryloxycarbonyl group; a cyano group (—CN); a carbamoyl group (—C(═O)NH₂); a haloformyl group (—C(═O)—X, wherein X represents a halogen atom); a formyl group (—C(═O)—H); an isocyano group; an isocyanate group; a thiocyanate group or a thioisocyanate group; an optionally substituted amino group; a hydroxy group; a nitro group; a CF₃ group; a halo group (Cl, Br, F); or an optionally substituted silyl group; and wherein independently each pair of R₁ and R₂, R₂ and R₃, R₃ and R₄, R₈ and R₉, R₉ and R₁₀, R₁₀ and R₁₁, R₁₅ and R₁₆ and R₁₆ and R₁₇ may be cross-bridged with each other to form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, which saturated or unsaturated ring may be intervened by an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group shown by formula: —N(R_(a))— (wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group), or may optionally be substituted; and wherein A represents Silicon or Germanium.

The “R” substituents (that is R₁, R₂ etc) in Compound Groups 1-9 denote the substituents at the positions of pentacene according to conventional nomenclature:

Surprisingly and beneficially, it has now been found in accordance with the present invention that combining specified soluble polyacene compounds, especially pentacene compounds from Compound Groups 1-9, (hereinafter often referred to as “the polyacene”) with an organic binder resin (hereinafter sometimes simply called a “binder”) results in little or no reduction in charge mobility of the polyacene, even an increase in some instances. For instance, the soluble polyacene may be dissolved in a binder resin (for example poly(α-methylstyrene) and deposited (for example by spin coating), to form an organic semiconducting layer yielding a high charge mobility, of for example 0.5-1.5 cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹. This result is particularly unexpected given that the prior art teaches that in order to achieve such high mobilities a polyacene compound is expected to require strong molecular ordering. In FETs dilution in a binder would be expected to yield at least an order of magnitude reduction in mobility. It has also now been found that surprisingly even at a 1:1 ratio of binder:polyacene the mobility is comparable to that of a pure polyacene compound used alone. The results produced by the present invention are therefore surprising for both a) maintaining the mobility despite potential disruption of molecular order, and b) maintaining mobility despite the expected increase of intermolecular distance. At the same time, a semiconducting layer formed therefrom exhibits excellent film forming characteristics and is particularly stable.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an organic semiconducting layer formulation for use in an organic field effect transistor comprising a compound selected from Compound groups 1 to 9 more preferably groups 1 and 8;

a binder; and

optionally a solvent.

In an especially preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an organic semiconducting layer formulation for use in an organic field effect transistor comprising a compound of Formula 1;

a binder; and

a solvent,

wherein the binder is selected from poly(α-methylstyrene), Topas™ 8007, poly(4-methylstyrene), polystyrene and polystyrene-co-α-methylstyrene, most preferably poly(α-methylstyrene); and the solvent is selected from toluene, ethylcyclohexane, anisole and p-xylene; most preferably toluene.

In a further especially preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an organic semiconducting layer formulation for use in an organic field effect transistor comprising a compound of Formula 2;

a binder; and

a solvent,

wherein the binder is selected from poly(α-methylstyrene), polyvinylcinnamate, and poly(4-vinylbiphenyl), most preferably poly(α-methylstyrene); and the solvent is 1,2-dichlorobenzene.

In yet a further especially preferred embodiment of the present invention there is provided an organic semiconducting layer formulation for use in an organic field effect transistor comprising a compound of Formula 3;

a binder; and

a solvent,

wherein

n and m is each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably 0, 1 or 2;

the binder is poly(α-methylstyrene); and

the solvent is toluene.

Once an organic semiconducting layer formulation of high mobility is obtained by combining a polyacene with a binder, the resulting formulation leads to several other advantages. For example, since the polyacenes are soluble they may be deposited in a liquid form, for example from solution. With the additional use of the binder it has now been found that the formulation may be coated onto a large area in a highly uniform manner. Without the use of binders the polyacene cannot be spin coated onto large areas as it does not result in uniform films. In the prior art, spin and drop-casting of a pure polyacene layer may in some cases result in relatively high mobility but it is difficult to provide a large area film with a constant mobility over the entire substrate which is a specific requirement for electronic devices. Furthermore, when a binder is used in the formulation it is possible to control the properties of the formulation to adjust to printing processes, for example viscosity, solid content, surface tension. Whilst not wishing to be bound by any particular theory it is also anticipated that the use of a binder in the formulation fills in volume between crystalline grains otherwise being void, making the organic semiconducting layer less sensitive to air and moisture. For example, layers formed according to the first aspect of the present invention show very good stability in OFET devices in air.

The invention also provides an organic semiconducting layer which comprises the organic semiconducting layer formulation.

The invention further provides a process for preparing the organic semiconducting layer which comprises:

-   -   (i) depositing on a substrate a liquid layer of a mixture which         comprises a polyacene compound as previously described herein;         and an organic binder resin or precursor thereof; and optionally         a solvent; and     -   (ii) forming from the liquid layer a solid layer which is the         organic semiconducting layer. The process is described in more         detail below.

The invention additionally provides an electronic device comprising the said organic semiconducting layer. The electronic device may include, without limitation, an organic field effect transistor (OFET), organic light emitting diode (OLED), photodetector, sensor, logic circuit, memory element, capacitor or photovoltaic (PV) cell. For example, the active semiconductor channel between the drain and source in an OFET may comprise the layer of the invention. As another example, a charge (hole or electron) injection or transport layer in an OLED device may comprise the layer of the invention. The formulations according to the present invention and layers formed therefrom have particular utility in OFETs especially in relation to the preferred embodiments described herein. Certain polyacene compounds have been described in US 2003/0116755 A and U.S. Pat. No. 6,690,029 and the methods disclosed therein for synthesising polyacenes may be employed in the present invention in order to make the polyacene compounds described herein. Methods for making polyacenes are also described in U.S. Pat. No. 3,557,233 (American Cyanamid). Alternative, methods within the skill and knowledge of persons skilled in the art which may be used to synthesise polyacene compounds in accordance with the present invention are disclosed in Organic Letters 2004, Volume 6, number 10, pages 1609-1612.

Compound Groups 1-9 are now described in more detail.

Compound Group 1

Compound Group 1 is represented by Formula 1:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 1, R₆ and R₁₃ are each independently the same or different and each independently comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. More preferably, the groups R₆ and R₁₃ comprise optionally substituted optionally unsaturated C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups, for example optionally substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl etc. groups (optionally substituted alkynyl is a preferred group, especially optionally substituted ethynyl). Preferably, the R₆ and R₁₃ substituents are π-conjugated with the pentacene ring structure. It is most preferred however that groups R₆ and R₁₃ comprise the same substituent as each other. In the pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 1 it is preferred that none of the ring positions on the pentacene other than the 6 and 13 positions are substituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen.

Examples of Compound Group 1 are given below.

wherein Ra comprises an optionally substituted C₁₋₄₀-carbyl or hydrocarbyl group, more preferably an optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀-alkyl group; and n is 0, 1, 2, 3, 4 or 5, most preferably 1, 2 or 3.

Compound Group 2

Compound Group 2 is represented by Formula 2:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 2, R₅ and R₁₄ are each independently the same or different and each independently comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. More preferably, the groups R₅ and R₁₄ comprise optionally substituted unsaturated C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups, for example optionally substituted alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl, aralkyl groups (optionally substituted alkynyl is a preferred group, especially optionally substituted ethynyl). Preferably, the R₅ and R₁₄ substituents are π-conjugated with the pentacene ring structure. It is most preferred however that R₅ and R₁₄ comprise the same substituent as each other. In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 2 one or more of the ring positions on the pentacene derivatives other than the 5 and 14 positions may be substituted but preferably they are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen.

Compound Group 3

Compound Group 3 is represented by Formula 3:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 3, R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀ are each independently the same or different and each independently comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. Further preferably, the groups R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀ comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₁₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups (especially alkyl), for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, etc. One or more of the ring positions on the pentacene other than the 2, 3, 9 and 10 positions may be substituted but preferably they are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen. Preferably, however R₂ and R₃ are the same substituent as each other and R₉ and R₁₀ are preferably the same substituents as each other. Most preferably R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀ are the same as each other.

An example of Compound Group 3 is given below:

Compound Group 4

Compound Group 4 is represented by Formula 4:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 4, R₂ and R₃ are each independently the same or different, however, R₂ and R₃ are preferably the same substituent as each other. Preferably, the groups R₂ and R₃ comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups or halo. In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 4, one or more of the ring positions on the pentacene other than the 2 and 3 positions may be substituted but preferably they are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen.

An example of Compound Group 4 is given below:

Compound Group 5

Compound Group 5 is represented by Formula 5:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 5, R₂, R₃, R₁₁ and R₁₂ are each independently the same or different. However, R₂ and R₃ are preferably the same substituent as each other, and R₁₁ and R₁₂ are preferably the same substituent as each other. Preferably, R₂, R₃, R₁₁ and R₁₂ are all the same substituent as each other. Preferably, the groups R₂, R₃, R₁₁ and R₁₂ comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. Further preferably, the groups R₂, R₃, R₁₁ and R₁₂ comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₁₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups, for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl, etc. In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 5, one or more of the ring positions on the pentacene derivative other than the 2, 3, 11 and 12 positions may be substituted but preferably, they are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen. An example of Compound Group 5 is given below:

Compound Group 6

Compound Group 6 is represented by Formula 6:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 6, R₂ and R₉ are each independently the same or different. However, R₂ and R₃ are preferably the same substituent as each other. Preferably, the groups R₂ and R₉ comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. In the pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 6, one or more of the ring positions on the pentacene other than the 2 and 9 positions may be substituted but preferably they are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen.

An example of a Compound of Group 6 is given below:

Compound Group 7

Compound Group 7 is represented by Formula 7:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 7, R₅, R₇, R₁₂ and R₁₄ are each independently the same or different. However it is preferred that R₅ and R₁₄ are the same substituent as each other, and that R₇ and R₁₂ are the same substituent as each other. More preferably, R₅, R₁₄, R₇ and R₁₂ are all the same substituent as each other. Preferably, the groups R₅, R_(14,) R₇ and R₁₂ comprise optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. In the pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 7, one or more of the ring positions on the pentacene other than the 5, 14, 7 and 12 positions may be substituted but preferably they are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen.

An example of a Compound of Group 7 is given below:

Compound Group 8

Compound Group 8 is represented by Formula 8:

In pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 8 and isomers thereof, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are each independently the same or different. R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁, each independently comprises H, optionally substituted C₁₋₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups, for example optionally substituted alkenyl, alkyaryl, aryl etc groups or halo groups for example F, Cl, Br. More preferably, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₇ comprise optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀-alkyl groups for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, butyl, pentyl etc., most preferably methyl; halogen, for example F, Cl, Br most preferably F, or R₂, and R₃ and R₉ and R₁₀ together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, more preferably an optionally substituted C₄-C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, intervened by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms or a group represented by formula —N(R_(a)), wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group. In the pentacene derivatives of Formula 8 R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ may each independently be the same or different, preferably R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are the same and comprise an optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group, for example a C₁-C₄₀ alkyl group (preferably C₁-C₄ alkyl and most preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl) which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; a C₆-C₄₀ aryl group (preferably phenyl) which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; a C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyl group which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; a C₁-C₄₀ alkoxy group which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; or a C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyloxy group which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom or R₁₅ and R₁₆ or R₁₆ and R₁₇ together with for example the atom to which they are attached form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, more preferably an optionally substituted C₄-C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, intervened by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms or a group represented by formula —N(R_(a)), wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group and/or isomers thereof. Preferably, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are each independently selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ alkyl (more preferably C₁₋₄ and even more preferably C₁₋₃ alkyl, for example isopropyl) and optionally substituted C₆₋₁₀ aryl (preferably phenyl).

In the pentacene derivatives of Formula 8, X is preferably Silicon or Germanium, most preferably silicon.

In one preferred embodiment, when X is silicon forming a silyl group, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are preferably the same group as each other, for example the same optionally substituted alkyl group, as in triisopropylsilyl. Preferably, in this embodiment, the groups R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are the same optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ (more preferably C₁₋₄ and even more preferably C₁₋₃) alkyl group. A preferred alkyl group in this case is isopropyl.

A silyl group of formula —Si(R₁₅)(R₁₆)(R₁₇) as described above is a preferred optional substituent for the C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group etc.

Additionally, in an extension to this further preferred embodiment it is preferred that when R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀ are C₁₋₁₀-alkyl, one or more of R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀ are preferably methyl, or one or more of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁ is F. In a further preferred embodiment of compound group 8, R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are each H. R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are C₁₋₁₀-alkyl, more preferably C₁₋₅-alkyl for example, methyl, ethyl or propyl.

In an additional embodiment of Group 8 any two or more of the substituents which are located on adjacent ring positions of the polyacene may, together with the adjacent ring position to which they are attached, optionally constitute a further aromatic or heterocyclic ring system fused to the polyacene compound. An example of this type of Group 8 pentacene compound is illustrated below in Group 8, example 6, wherein each pair of adjacent substituents R₁ and R₂, R₃ and R₄, R₈ and R₉, and R₁₀ and R₁₁ constitute a benzene ring fused to the pentacene:

In the pentacene derivatives of compound Group 8 one or more of the ring positions on the pentacene derivative other than the 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11 and 13 positions may be substituted, but preferably they are unsubstituted, that is, they are occupied by hydrogen.

Examples of Compound Group 8 compounds are given below wherein R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ and n and m are as previously described above:

Compound Group 9

Compound Group 9 is Represented by Formula 9:

In the pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 9, R₂, R₃, R₇, R₈, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are each independently the same or different and each independently comprise H, or optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀-carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. R₂ and R₃ may be the same or different but are preferably the same substituent as each other. R₇ and R₈ may also be the same or different but are preferably the same substituent as each other. Preferably R₂, R₃, R₇ and R₈ are the same substituent as each other. Most preferably R₂ and R₃ and R₇ and R₈ together with the carbon atom to which they are attached form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, more preferably a C₄-C₁₀ saturated or unsaturated ring intervened by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms or a group represented by the formula —N(R_(a)) wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group, thereby forming a pseudo-pentacene compound. Preferred pseudo-pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 9 are as shown in Formula 9a and Formula 9b and isomers thereof wherein one or more of the carbon atoms of the polyacene skeleton may be substituted by a heteroatom selected from N, P, As, O, S, Se and Te, preferably N or S.

In the pseudo-pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 9 as exemplified by formula 9a R₁₉ and R₂₀ are preferably the same substituent and comprise optionally substituted C₁₋₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups. More preferably R₁₉ and R₂₀ each independently comprise optionally substituted, optionally unsaturated C₁₋₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups, for example, optionally substituted alkyl, alkenyl, alkynyl, aryl or aralkyl groups or R₁₉ and R₂₀ either together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached or independently in combination with a substituent on a suitably adjacent atom from an optionally substituted C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring optionally intervened by one or more oxygen or sulphur atoms or a group represented by Formula —N(R_(a)) wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group. Most preferably the ring (formed by R₁₉ and R₂₀ together with the carbon atoms to which they are attached) is intervened by one or more oxygen atoms. However, it is most preferred that R₁₉ and R₂₀ are the same substituent and comprise hydrogen or a saturated or unsaturated C₁₋₄-alkyl group for example methyl, ethyl, propyl, or butyl, most preferably R₁₉ and R₂₀ are each independently a methyl group or a hydrogen atom.

In the pseudo pentacene derivatives of compound groups 9a and 9b, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇ may be the same or different, most preferably R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are the same and are as described in relation to compounds of Formula 8 above.

In the pseudo pentacene derivatives of Compound Group 9 one or more of the ring positions on the compound may be substituted, for example in order to form additional optionally substituted rings but preferably the other ring positions are unsubstituted, that is they are occupied by hydrogen.

In the polyacenes of the present invention (especially Compound Groups 1-9), the C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group may be a saturated or unsaturated acyclic group, or a saturated or unsaturated cyclic group. Unsaturated acyclic or cyclic groups are preferred, especially alkenyl and alkynyl groups (especially ethynyl). Where the C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group is acyclic, the group may be linear or branched. The C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group includes for example: a C₁-C₄₀ alkyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₄₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ polyenyl group, a C₆-C₁₈ aryl group, a C₆-C₄₀ alkylaryl group, a C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkenyl group, and the like. Preferred among the foregoing groups are a C₁-C₂₀ alkyl group, a C₂-C₂₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₂₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₂₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₂₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group and a C₄-C₂₀ polyenyl group, respectively; more preferred are a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, a C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl group (especially ethynyl), a C₃-C₁₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₁₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group and a C₄-C₁₀ polyenyl group, respectively; and most preferred is C₂₋₁₀ alkynyl.

Examples of the alkyl group are, without limitation, methyl, ethyl, propyl, n-butyl, t-butyl, dodecanyl, trifluoromethyl, perfluoro-n-butyl, 2,2,2-trifluoroethyl, benzyl, 2-phenoxyethyl, etc. Examples of the alkynyl group are ethynyl and propynl. Examples of the aryl group are, without limitation, phenyl, 2-tolyl, 3-tolyl, 4-tolyl, naphthyl, biphenyl, 4-phenoxyphenyl, 4-fluorophenyl, 3-carbomethoxyphenyl, 4-carbomethoxyphenyl, etc. Examples of the alkoxy group are, without limitation, methoxy, ethoxy, 2-methoxyethoxy, t-butoxy, etc. Examples of the aryloxy group are, without limitation, phenoxy, naphthoxy, phenylphenoxy, 4-methylphenoxy, etc. Examples of the amino group are, without limitation, dimethylamino, methylamino, methylphenylamino, phenylamino, etc.

In the polyacenes of the present invention, the optional substituents on the said C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups for R₁ etc. preferably are selected from: silyl, sulpho, sulphonyl, formyl, amino, imino, nitrilo, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₆₋₁₂aryl, C₁₋₄ alkoxy, hydroxy and/or all chemically possible combinations thereof. More preferable among these optional substituents are silyl and C₆₋₁₂ aryl and most preferable is silyl.

The silyl group in this specification, which may be optionally substituted, may be shown by formula: —Si(R₁₅)(R₁₆)(R₁₇), wherein each of R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇, which may be the same or different, independently represents hydrogen, a C₁-C₄₀-alkyl group (preferably C₁-C₄-alkyl and most preferably methyl, ethyl, n-propyl or isopropyl) which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; a C₆-C₄₀-aryl group (preferably phenyl) which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; a C₆-C₄₀-aralalkyl group which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; a C₁-C₄₀-alkoxy group which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom; or a C₆-C₄₀-arylalkyloxy group which may optionally be substituted for example with a halogen atom. Preferably, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are each independently selected from optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀-alkyl (more preferably C₁₋₄ and even more preferably C₁₋₃-alkyl, for example isopropyl) and optionally substituted C₆₋₁₀-aryl (preferably phenyl).

In one preferred embodiment of silyl group, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are preferably the same group as each other, for example the same optionally substituted alkyl group, as in triisopropylsilyl. Preferably, in that preferred embodiment, the groups R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are the same optionally substituted C₁₋₁₀ (more preferably C₁₄ and even more preferably C₁₋₃) alkyl group. A preferred alkyl group in this case is isopropyl.

A silyl group of formula —Si(R₁₅)(R₁₆)(R₁₇) as described above is a preferred optional substituent for the C₁-C₄₀-carbyl or hydrocarbyl group etc.

Examples of the silyl group —Si(R₁₅)(R₁₆)(R₁₇) are, without limitation, trimethylsilyl, triethylsilyl, tripropylsilyl, dimethylethylsilyl, diethylmethylsilyl, dimethylpropylsilyl, dimethylisopropylsilyl, dipropylmethylsilyl, diisopropylmethylsilyl, dipropylethylsilyl, diisopropylethylsilyl, diethylisopropylsilyl, triisopropylsilyl, trimethoxysilyl, triethoxysilyl, triphenylsilyl, diphenylisopropylsilyl, diisopropylphenylsilyl, diphenylethylsilyl, diethylphenylsilyl, diphenylmethylsilyl, triphenoxysilyl, dimethylmethoxysilyl, dimethylphenoxysilyl, methylmethoxyphenyl, etc. For each example in the foregoing list, the alkyl, aryl or alkoxy group may optionally be substituted.

Most preferred pentacene compounds according to the present invention are those of Compound Groups 1, 2, 8 and 9, more especially preferred are compound groups 1 and 8. Examples of compounds of Group 1 and 2 include without limitation: 6,13-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(tripropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dimethylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diethylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dimethylpropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dimethylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dipropylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diisopropylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dipropylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diisopropylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diethylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene 6,13-bis(trimethoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(triethoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(triphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diphenylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diisopropylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diphenylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diethylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diphenylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(triphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dimethylmethoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dimethylphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(methylmethoxyphenylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(cyclopentamethylenesilane)pentacene, 6,13-bis(cyclotetramethylenesilane)pentacene, 5,14-bis(trimethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(tripropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dimethylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diethylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dimethylpropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dimethylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dipropylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(disopropylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dipropylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diisopropylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diethylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(trimethoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triethoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diphenylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diisopropylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diphenylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diethylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diphenylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dimethylmethoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dimethylphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(methylmethoxyphenylethynyl)pentacene.

Examples of compounds of Group 8 and 9 include without limitation: 2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,11-bis(triisopropylsilyl ethynyl)anthra[2,3-b:6,7-b′]dithiophene, 5,11-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)anthra[2,3-b:7,6-b′]dithiophene, 1,8-difluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 1,11-difluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene and 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilyl ethynyl)pentacene.

Preferred among Compound Groups 1 and 8 are compounds of Formula 1A, 8A or 8B, especially Formula 1A:

wherein each R′ is independently selected from a C₂₋₄₀ alkyl group, a C₂₋₄₀ alkoxy group, a C₂₋₄₀ alkenyl group, C₂₋₄₀ alkynyl group, a C₆₋₁₈ aryl or heteroaryl group, C₆-C₄₀ aryloxy group, C₇-C₄₀ alkylaryloxy group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkoxycarbonyl, a C₇-C₄₀ aryloxycarbonyl group, or a silyl group, each of which may be optionally substituted, or a cyano group (—CN), a carbamoyl group (—C(═O)NH₂), a haloformyl group (—C(═O)—X, wherein X represents a halogen atom), a formyl group (—C(═O)—H), an isocyano group, an isocyanate group, a thiocyanate group or a thioisocyanate group, an optionally substituted amino group, an imino group, a hydroxy group, a halo, a sulpho group, a sulphonyl group a mercapto group, or a nitro group; and m and n in Formula 8B are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or 4, more preferably 0, 1 or 2. Preferably, in Formulae 1A, 8A and 8B each R′ is independently selected from C₆₋₁₈ aryl and silyl, which may both optionally be substituted. Preferably in Formula 1A, 8A and 8B at least one R′ and most preferably both R′ is silyl, wherein the silyl group is preferably defined as above, that is, a silyl group of formula —Si(R₁₅)(R₁₆)(R₁₇). These latter highly preferred compounds thus have Formulae 1A′, 8A′ and 8B′:

In one type of preferred embodiment, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ in Formulae 1A′, 8A′ and 8B′ are preferably the same as each other, for example the same alkyl group, as in 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene. In this particular preferred embodiment, R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are preferably the same C₁₋₁₀ (preferably C₁₋₄ and more preferably C₁₋₃) alkyl group which may optionally be substituted. Optionally substituted isopropyl is a preferred alkyl group for such embodiments.

In some cases it may be desirable to control the solubility of the polyacene in common organic solvents in order to make devices easier to fabricate. This may have advantages in making an FET for example, where solution coating, say, a dielectric onto the polyacene layer may have a tendency to dissolve the polyacene. Also, once a device is formed, a less soluble polyacene may have less tendency to “bleed” across organic layers. In one embodiment of a way to control solubility of the pentacene derivatives of Formulae 1B above, at least one of R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ contains an optionally substituted aryl (preferably phenyl) group. Thus, at least one of R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ may be an optionally substituted C₆₋₁₈ aryl (preferably phenyl) group, an optionally substituted C₆₋₁₈ aryloxy (preferably phenoxy) group, an optionally substituted C₈₋₂₀ arylalkyl (for example benzyl) group, or an optionally substituted C₈₋₂₀ arylalkyloxy (for example benzyloxy) group. In such cases, the remaining groups, if any, among R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are preferably C₁₋₁₀ (more preferably C₁₋₄) alkyl groups which may be optionally substituted. An example of such an embodiment is given below in Formulae 1C, wherein Ar represents an aryl-containing group for example an optionally substituted C₆₋₁₈ aryl group, an optionally substituted C₆₋₁₈ aryloxy group, an optionally substituted C₆₋₂₀ arylalkyl group or an optionally substituted C₆₋₂₀ arylalkyloxy group:

In Formulae 1C, R₁₅, and R₁₇ are preferably the same group as each other, for example an isopropyl group.

Examples of compounds of Formulae 1C include, without limitation: 6,13-bis(triphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diphenylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diisopropylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diphenylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diethylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(diphenylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(triphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(dimethylphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 6,13-bis(methylmethoxyphenylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diphenylisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diisopropylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diphenylethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diethylphenylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(diphenylmethylsilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(triphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(dimethylphenoxysilylethynyl)pentacene, 5,14-bis(methylmethoxyphenylethynyl)pentacene.

Additional examples of preferred compounds of Groups 1 and 8 are as previously illustrated under the general description of each group.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention the semiconducting polyacene has a field effect mobility, μ, of more than 10⁻⁵ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, preferably of more than 10⁻⁴ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, more preferably of more than 10⁻³ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, still more preferably of more than 10⁻² cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹ and most preferably of more than 10⁻¹ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹.

The binder, which is a polymer, may comprise either an insulating binder or a semiconducting binder, or mixtures thereof may be referred to herein as the organic binder, the polymeric binder or simply the binder.

Preferred binders according to the present invention are materials of low permittivity, that is, those having a permittivity, ε at 1,000 Hz of 3.3 or less. The organic binder preferably has a permittivity at 1,000 Hz of less than 3.0, more preferably 2.9 or less. Preferably the organic binder has a permittivity at 1,000 Hz of greater than 1.7. It is especially preferred that the permittivity of the binder is in the range from 2.0 to 2.9. Whilst not wishing to be bound by any particular theory it is believed that the use of binders with a permittivity of greater than 3.3 at 1,000 Hz, may lead to a reduction in the OSC layer mobility in an electronic device, for example an OFET. In addition, high permittivity binders could also result in increased current hysteresis of the device, which is undesirable.

An example of a suitable organic binder is polystyrene. Further examples are given below.

In one type of preferred embodiment, the organic binder is one in which at least 95%, more preferably at least 98% and especially all of the atoms consist of hydrogen, fluorine and carbon atoms.

It is preferred that the binder normally contains conjugated bonds especially conjugated double bonds and/or aromatic rings.

The binder should preferably be capable of forming a film, more preferably a flexible film. Polymers of styrene and alpha-methyl styrene, for example copolymers including styrene, alpha-methylstyrene and butadiene may suitably be used.

Binders of low permittivity of use in the present invention have few permanent dipoles which could otherwise lead to random fluctuations in molecular site energies. The permittivity (dielectric constant) can be determined by the ASTM D150 test method.

It is also preferred that in the present invention binders are used which have solubility parameters with low polar and hydrogen bonding contributions as materials of this type have low permanent dipoles. A preferred range for the solubility parameters of a binder for use in accordance with the present invention is provide in Table 1 below. TABLE 1 Hansen parameter δ_(d) MPa^(1/2) δ_(p) MPa^(1/2) δ_(h) MPa^(1/2) Preferred range 14.5+ 0-10 0-14 More preferred range   16+ 0-9  0-12 Most preferred range   17+ 0-8  0-10

The three dimensional solubility parameters listed above include: dispersive (δ_(d)), polar (δ_(p)) and hydrogen bonding (δ_(h)) components (C. M. Hansen, Ind. Eng. and Chem., Prod. Res. and Devl., 9, No 3, p 282, 1970). These parameters may be determined empirically or calculated from known molar group contributions as described in Handbook of Solubility Parameters and Other Cohesion Parameters ed. A. F. M. Barton, CRC Press, 1991. The solubility parameters of many known polymers are also listed in this publication.

It is desirable that the permittivity of the binder has little dependence on frequency. This is typical of non-polar materials. Polymers and/or copolymers can be chosen as the binder by the permittivity of their substituent groups. A list of low polarity binders suitable for use in the present invention is given (without limiting to these examples) in Table 2: TABLE 2 typical low frequency permittivity Binder ε Polystyrene 2.5 poly(α-methylstyrene) 2.6 poly(α-vinylnaphtalene) 2.6 poly(vinyltoluene) 2.6 Polyethylene 2.2-2.3 cis-polybutadiene 2.0 Polypropylene 2.2 Polyisoprene 2.3 poly(4-methyl-1-pentene) 2.1 poly(4-methylstyrene) 2.7 poly(chorotrifluoroethylene) 2.3-2.8 poly(2-methyl-1,3-butadiene) 2.4 poly(p-xylylene) 2.6 poly(α-α-α′-α′ tetrafluoro-p-xylylene) 2.4 poly[1,1-(2-methyl propane)bis(4-phenyl) 2.3 carbonate] poly(cyclohexyl methacrylate) 2.5 poly(chlorostyrene) 2.6 poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene ether) 2.6 Polyisobutylene 2.2 poly(vinyl cyclohexane) 2.2 poly(vinylcinnamate) 2.9 poly(4-vinylbiphenyl) 2.7

Other polymers suitable as binders include: poly(1,3-butadiene) or polyphenylene. Copolymers containing the repeat units of the above polymers are also suitable as binders. Copolymers offer the possibility of improving compatibility with the polyacene, modifying the morphology and/or the glass transition temperature of the final layer composition. It will be appreciated that in the above table certain materials are insoluble in commonly used solvents for preparing the layer. In these cases analogues can be used as copolymers. Some examples of copolymers are given in Table 3 (without limiting to these examples). Both random or block copolymers can be used. It is also possible to add some more polar monomer components as long as the overall composition remains low in polarity. TABLE 3 typical low frequency Binder permittivity (ε) Poly(ethylene/tetrafluoroethylene) 2.6 poly(ethylene/chlorotrifluoroethylene) 2.3 fluorinated ethylene/propylene copolymer   2-2.5 polystyrene-co-α-methylstyrene 2.5-2.6 ethylene/ethyl acrylate copolymer 2.8 poly(styrene/10% butadiene) 2.6 poly(styrene/15% butadiene) 2.6 poly(styrene/2,4 dimethylstyrene) 2.5 Topas ™ (all grades) 2.2-2.3

Other copolymers may include: branched or non-branched polystyrene-block-polybutadiene, polystyrene-block(polyethylene-ran-butylene)-block-polystyrene, polystyrene-block-polybutadiene-block-polystyrene, polystyrene-(ethylene-propylene)-diblock-copolymers (e.g. KRATON®-G1701E, Shell), poly(propylene-co-ethylene) and poly(styrene-co-methylmethacrylate).

Preferred insulating binders for use in the organic semiconductor layer formulation according to the present invention are poly(α-methylstyrene), polyvinylcinnamate, poly(4-vinylbiphenyl), poly(4-methylstyrene), and Topas™ 8007. However, the most preferred insulating binders are poly(α-methylstyrene), polyvinylcinnamate and poly(4-vinylbiphenyl).

As mentioned above the organic binder may itself be a semiconductor, where it will be referred to herein as a semiconducting binder. The semiconducting binder is still preferably a binder of low permittivity as herein defined. Semiconducting binders for use in the present invention preferably have a number average molecular weight (M_(n)) of at least 1500-2000, more preferably at least 3000, even more preferably at least 4000 and most preferably at least 5000. The semiconducting binder preferably has a charge carrier mobility, μ, of at least 10⁻⁵ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹, more preferably at least 10⁻⁴ cm²V⁻¹s⁻¹.

A preferred class of semiconducting binder has repeat units of Formula 10:

wherein Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³, which may be the same or different, each represent, independently if in different repeat units, an optionally substituted aromatic group (mononuclear or polynuclear) and in the semiconductor binder n is an integer of at least 6, preferably at least 10, more preferably at least 15 and most preferably at least 20. In the context of Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³, a mononuclear aromatic group has only one aromatic ring, for example phenyl or phenylene. A polynuclear aromatic group has two or more aromatic rings which may be fused (for example napthyl or naphthylene), individually covalently linked (for example biphenyl) and/or a combination of both fused and individually linked aromatic rings. Preferably each Ar¹, Ar² and Ar³ is an aromatic group which is substantially conjugated over substantially the whole group.

Preferred classes of semiconducting binders are those containing substantially conjugated repeat units. The semiconducting polymer may be a homopolymer or copolymer (including a block-copolymer) of the general Formula 11: A_((c))B_((d)) . . . X_((z))   Formula 11

where A, B, . . . , Z each represent a monomer unit and (c), (d), . . . (z) each represent the mole fraction of the respective monomer unit in the polymer, that is each (c), (d), . . . (z) is a value from 0 to 1 and the total of (c)+(d)+ . . . +(z)=1. Examples of monomer units A, B, . . . Z include units of Formula 10 and Formulae 12 to 17 given below:

wherein R1 and R2 may be independently: H; optionally substituted alkyl; alkoxy; thioalkyl; acyl; optionally substituted aryl; a fluorine atom; a cyano group; a nitro group; an optionally substituted secondary or tertiary alkylamine or arylamine of formula —N(R_(a))(R_(b)), wherein R_(a) and R_(b) may each be independently represented by H, optionally substituted alkyl, aryl, optionally substituted aryl, alkoxy or polyalkoxy groups; or other substituent and * is any terminal or end capping group including hydrogen, (the alkyl and aryl groups may be optionally fluorinated);

in which X may be Se, Te, O, S or —N(R_(c)) more preferably X is O, S or —N(R_(c))—, wherein R_(c) represents H, optionally substituted alkyl or optionally substituted aryl; and R1 and R2 are as previously described in relation to Formula 12;

In which R1, R2 and X are as previously described in relation to Formulae 12 and 13 respectively;

In which R1, R2 and X are as previously described in relation to Formulae 12 and 13 respectively; and Z represents —C(T₁)=C(T₂)-, —C≡C—, —N(R′)—, —N═N—, (R′)═N—, —NC(R′)—, wherein T₁ and T2 independently represent —H, Cl, F, —C≡N or a lower alkyl and R′ represents —H, alkyl, substituted alkyl, aryl, or substituted aryl;

wherein R1 and R2 are as previously described in relation to Formulae 12;

wherein R1 to R4 may be independently selected from the same list of groups as described for R1 and R2 in Formula 12.

In the case of the polymeric Formulae described herein, such as Formulae 10 to 17, the polymers may be terminated by any terminal group, that is any end-capping or leaving group, including hydrogen.

In the case of a block-copolymer, each monomer A, B, . . . Z may be a conjugated oligomer or polymer comprising a number, for example 2 to 50, of the units of Formulae 12-17. The semiconducting binder preferably includes: arylamine, fluorene, thiophene, spiro bifluorene and/or optionally substituted aryl (for example, phenylene) groups, more preferably arylamine, still more preferably triarylamine groups. The aforementioned groups may be linked by further conjugating groups for example vinylene. In addition, it is preferred that the semiconducting binder comprises a polymer (either a homo-polymer or copolymer, including block-copolymer) containing one or more of the aforementioned arylamine, fluorene, thiophene and/or optionally substituted aryl groups. A preferred semiconducting binder comprises a homo-polymer or copolymer (including block-copolymer) containing arylamine (preferably triarylamine) and/or fluorene units. Another preferred semiconducting binder comprises a homo-polymer or co-polymer (including block-copolymer) containing fluorene and/or thiophene units.

The semiconducting binder may also contain: carbazole, stilbene repeat units. For example polyvinylcarbazole or polystilbene polymers, copolymers may be used. The semiconducting binder may optionally contain polyacene segments (for example repeat units as described for Formula A above) to improve compatibility with the soluble polyacene molecules.

The most preferred semiconducting binders for use in the organic semiconductor layer formulation according to the present invention are poly(9-vinylcarbazole) and PTAA1.

For application of the semiconducting layer in p-channel FETs, it is desirable that the semiconducting binder should have a higher ionisation potential than the polyacene semiconductor, otherwise the binder may form hole traps. In n-channel materials the semiconducting binder should have lower electron affinity than the n-type semiconductor to avoid electron trapping.

The formulation according to the present invention may be prepared by a process which comprises:

-   -   (i) first mixing both a polyacene compound and an organic         binder, preferably the mixing comprises mixing the two         components together in a solvent or solvent mixture. The solvent         may be a single solvent or the polyacene compound and the         organic binder may each be dissolved in a separate solvent         followed by mixing the two resultant solutions to mix the         compounds; and     -   (ii) applying the solvent(s) containing the polyacene compound         and the organic binder to a substrate; and     -   (iii) optionally evaporating the solvent(s) to form the layer of         the invention.

The binder may be formed in situ by mixing or dissolving a polyacene in a precursor of a binder, for example a liquid monomer, oligomer or crosslinkable polymer, optionally in the presence of a solvent, and depositing the mixture or solution, for example by dipping, spraying, painting or printing it, on a substrate to form a liquid layer and then curing the liquid monomer, oligomer or crosslinkable polymer, for example by exposure to radiation, heat or electron beams, to produce a solid layer.

If a preformed binder is used it may be dissolved together with the polyacene in a suitable solvent, and the solution deposited for example by dipping, spraying, painting or printing it on a substrate to form a liquid layer and then removing the solvent to leave a solid layer. It will be appreciated that solvents are chosen which are able to dissolve both the binder and polyacene, and which upon evaporation from the solution blend give a coherent defect free layer. Suitable solvents for the binder or polyacene can be determined by preparing a contour diagram for the material as described in ASTM Method D 3132 at the concentration at which the mixture will be employed. The material is added to a wide variety of solvents as described in the ASTM method.

It will also be appreciated that in accordance with the present invention the formulation may comprise one or more polyacene compounds and/or one of more binders and that the process for preparing the formulation may be applied to such formulations.

Examples of organic solvents which may be considered are: CH₂Cl₂, CHCl₃, monochlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, tetrahydrofuran, anisole, morpholine, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, 1,4-dioxane, acetone, methylethylketone, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, tetralin, decalin and/or mixtures thereof. After the appropriate mixing and ageing, solutions are evaluated as one of the following categories: complete solution, borderline solution or insoluble. The contour line is drawn to outline the solubility parameter-hydrogen bonding limits dividing solubility and insolubility. ‘Complete’ solvents falling within the solubility area can be chosen from literature values such as published in “Crowley, J. D., Teague, G. S. Jr and Lowe, J. W, Jr., Journal of Paint Technology, 38, No 496, 296 (1966)”. Solvent blends may also be used and can be identified as described in “Solvents, W. H. Ellis, Federation of Societies for Coatings Technology, p 9-10, 1986”. Such a procedure may lead to a blend of ‘non’ solvents that will dissolve both the binder and polyacene, although it is desirable to have at least one true solvent in a blend.

Preferred solvents for use in the organic semiconducting layer formulation according to the present invention for use with both insulating and semiconducting binders and mixtures thereof are: xylene(s), toluene, tetralin and o-dichlorobenzene.

The proportions of binder to polyacene in the formulation or layer according to the present invention are typically 20:1 to 1:20 by weight, preferably 10:1 to 1:10 more preferably 5:1 to 1:5, still more preferably 3:1 to 1:3 further preferably 2:1 to 1:2 and especially 1:1. Surprisingly and beneficially, dilution of the polyacene in the binder has been found to have little or no detrimental effect on the charge mobility, in contrast to what would have been expected from the prior art.

In accordance with the present invention it has further been found that the level of the solids content in the organic semiconducting layer formulation is also a factor in achieving improved mobility values for electronic devices such as OFETs. The solids content of the formulation is commonly expressed as follows: ${{Solids}\quad{content}\quad(\%)} = {\frac{a + b}{a + b + c} \times 100}$ wherein: a=mass of polyacene, b=mass of binder and c=mass of solvent.

The solids content of the formulation is preferably 0.1 to 10% by weight, more preferably 0.5 to 5% by weight.

Surprisingly and beneficially, dilution of the polyacene in the binder has been found to have little or no effect on the charge mobility, in contrast to what would have been expected from the prior art.

It is desirable to generate small structures in modern microelectronics to reduce cost (more devices/unit area), and power consumption. Patterning of the layer of the invention may be carried out by photolithography or electron beam lithography.

Liquid coating of organic electronic devices such as field effect transistors is more desirable than vacuum deposition techniques. The polyacene and binder mixtures of the present invention enable the use of a number of liquid coating techniques. The organic semiconductor layer may be incorporated into the final device structure by, for example and without limitation, dip coating, spin coating, ink jet printing, letter-press printing, screen printing, doctor blade coating; roller printing, reverse-roller printing; offset lithography printing, flexographic printing, web printing, spray coating, brush coating or pad printing. The present invention is particularly suitable for use in spin coating the organic semiconductor layer into the final device structure.

Selected polyacene and binder compositions of the present invention may be applied to prefabricated device substrates by ink jet printing or microdispensing. Preferably industrial piezoelectric print heads such as but not limited to those supplied by Aprion, Hitachi-Koki, InkJet Technology, On Target Technology, Picojet, Spectra, Trident, Xaar may be used to apply the organic semiconductor layer to a substrate. Additionally semi-industrial heads such as those manufactured by Brother, Epson, Konica, Seiko Instruments Toshiba TEC or single nozzle microdispensers such as those produced by Microdrop and Microfab may be used.

In order to be applied by ink jet printing or microdispensing, polyacene and binder compositions must first be dissolved in a suitable solvent. Solvents must fulfil the requirements stated above and must not have any detrimental effect on the chosen print head. Additionally, solvents should have boiling points >100° C., preferably >140° C. and more preferably >150° C. in order to prevent operability problems caused by the solution drying out inside the print head. Suitable solvents include substituted and non-substituted xylene derivatives, di-C₁₋₂-alkyl formamide, substituted and non-substituted anisoles and other phenol-ether derivatives, substituted heterocycles such as substituted pyridines, pyrazines, pyrimidines, pyrrolidinones, substituted and non-substituted N,N-di-C₁₋₂-alkylanilines and other fluorinated or chlorinated aromatics.

A preferred solvent for depositing a binder/polyacene formulation by ink jet printing comprises a benzene derivative which has a benzene ring substituted by one or more substituents wherein the total number of carbon atoms among the one or more substituents is at least three. For example, the benzene derivative may be substituted with a propyl group or three methyl groups, in either case there being at least three carbon atoms in total. Such a solvent enables an ink jet fluid to be formed comprising the solvent with the binder and polyacene which reduces or prevents clogging of the jets and separation of the components during spraying. The solvent(s) may include those selected from the following list of examples: dodecylbenzene; 1-Methyl-4-tert-butylbenzene; Terpineol; Limonene; Isodurene; Terpinolene; Cymene; Diethylbenzene. The solvent may be a solvent mixture, that is a combination of two or more solvents, each solvent preferably having a boiling point >100° C., more preferably >140° C. Such solvent(s) also enhance film formation in the layer deposited and reduce defects in the layer.

The ink jet fluid (that is mixture of solvent, binder and polyacene) preferably has a viscosity at 20° C. of 1-100 mPa.s, more preferably 1-50 mPa.s and most preferably 1-30 mPa.s

The use of the binder in the present invention also allows the viscosity of the coating solution to be tuned to meet the requirements of the particular print head.

The semiconducting layer of the present invention is typically at most 1 micron (=1 μm) thick, although it may be thicker if required. The exact thickness of the layer will depend, for example, upon the requirements of the electronic device in which the layer is used. For use in an OFET or OLED, the layer thickness may typically be 500 nm or less.

In the semiconducting layer of the present invention there may be used two or more different polyacene compounds of Formula 1-9. Additionally or alternatively, in the semiconducting layer there may be used two or more organic binders of the present invention.

As mentioned above, the invention further provides a process for preparing the organic semiconducting layer which comprises (i) depositing on a substrate a liquid layer of a mixture which comprises a polyacene compound, an organic binder resin or precursor thereof and optionally a solvent, and (ii) forming from the liquid layer a solid layer which is the organic semiconducting layer.

In the process, the solid layer may be formed by evaporation of the solvent and/or by reacting the binder resin precursor (if present) to form the binder resin in situ. The substrate may include any underlying device layer, electrode or separate substrate such as silicon wafer or polymer substrate for example.

In one particular embodiment of the present invention, the binder may be alignable, for example capable of forming a liquid crystalline phase. In that case the binder may assist alignment of the polyacene, for example such that the polyacene backbone is preferentially aligned along the direction of charge transport. Suitable processes for aligning the binder include those processes used to align polymeric organic semiconductors such as described in WO 03/007397 (Plastic Logic).

The present invention also provides the use of the semiconducting formulation or layer in an electronic device. The formulation may be used as a high mobility semiconducting material in various devices and apparatus. The formulation may be used, for example, in the form of a semiconducting layer or film. Accordingly, in another aspect, the present invention provides a semiconducting layer for use in an electronic device, the layer comprising the formulation according to the invention. The layer or film may be less than about thirty microns. For various electronic device applications, the thickness may be less than about one micron thick. The layer may be deposited, for example on a part of an electronic device, by any of the aforementioned solution coating or printing techniques.

The formulation may be used, for example as a layer or film, in a field effect transistor (FET) for example as the semiconducting channel, organic light emitting diode (OLED) for example as a hole or electron injection or transport layer or electroluminescent layer, photodetector, chemical detector, photovoltaic cell (PVs), capacitor sensor, logic circuit, display, memory device and the like. The formulation may also be used in electrophotographic (EP) apparatus. The formulation is preferably solution coated to form a layer or film in the aforementioned devices or apparatus to provide advantages in cost and versatility of manufacture. The improved charge carrier mobility of the formulation of the present invention enables such devices or apparatus to operate faster and/or more efficiently. The formulation and layer of the present invention are especially suitable for use in an organic field effect transistor OFET as the semiconducting channel. Accordingly, the invention also provides an organic field effect transistor (OFET) comprising a source electrode, a drain electrode and an organic semiconducting channel connecting the source and drain electrodes, wherein the organic semiconducting channel comprises an organic semiconducting layer according to the present invention. Other features of the OFET are well known to those skilled in the art.

Some definitions and explanations of terms used herein are now given.

When in the formulae herein there is a list of labels (for example R₁, R₂ etc.) or indices (for example ‘n’) which are said to represent a list of groups or numerical values, and these are said to be “independent in each case” this indicates each label and/or index can represent any of those groups listed independently from each other, independently within each repeat unit, independently within each Formula and/or independently on each group which is substituted as appropriate. Thus, in each of these instances, many different groups might be represented by a single label (for example R₅).

The terms ‘substituent’, ‘substituted’, ‘optional substituent’ and/or ‘optionally substituted’ as used herein (unless followed by a list of other substituents) signifies at least one of the following groups (or substitution by these groups): silyl, sulpho, sulphonyl, formyl, amino, imino, nitrilo, mercapto, cyano, nitro, halo, C₁₋₄alkyl, C₆₋₁₂ aryl, C₁₋₄alkoxy, hydroxy and/or combinations thereof. These optional groups may comprise all chemically possible combinations in the same group and/or a plurality (preferably two) of the aforementioned groups (for example amino and sulphonyl if directly attached to each other represent a sulphamoyl radical). Preferred optional substituents comprise: C₁₋₄alkyl; methoxy and/or ethoxy (any of these optionally substituted by at least one halo); amino (optionally substituted by at least one methyl and/or ethyl); and/or halo.

The term ‘carbyl group’ as used herein denotes any monovalent or multivalent organic radical moiety which comprises at least one carbon atom either without any non-carbon atoms (for example —C≡C—), or optionally combined with at least one other non-carbon atom (for example alkoxy, carbonyl etc.).

The term ‘hydrocarbon group’, ‘hydrocarbyl’ or the like may be used herein interchangeably. A hydrocarbon group may be optionally substituted. A hydrocarbon group may also contain at least one of the following heteroatom containing moieties: oxy, thio, sulphinyl, sulphonyl, amino, imino, nitrilo and/or combinations thereof.

The terms ‘alkyl’, ‘aryl’, etc. as used herein may be readily replaced, where appropriate, by terms denoting a different degree of valence for example multivalent species (for example alkylene, arylene, etc.).

The term ‘halo’ as used herein signifies fluoro, chloro, bromo and iodo.

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, a group herein which comprises a chain of three or more carbon atoms signifies a group in which the chain wholly or in part may be linear, branched and/or form a ring (including spiro and/or fused rings).

Unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, as used herein plural forms of the terms herein are to be construed as including the singular form and vice versa.

Throughout the description and claims of this specification, the words “comprise” and “contain” and variations of the words, for example “comprising” and “comprises”, mean “including but not limited to”, and are not intended to (and do not) exclude other components.

It will be appreciated that variations to the foregoing embodiments of the invention can be made while still failing within the scope of the invention. Each feature disclosed in this specification, unless stated otherwise, may be replaced by alternative features serving the same, equivalent or similar purpose. Thus, unless stated otherwise, each feature disclosed is one example only of a generic series of equivalent or similar features.

All of the features disclosed in this specification may be combined in any combination, except combinations where at least some of such features and/or steps are mutually exclusive. In particular, the preferred features of the invention are applicable to all aspects of the invention and may be used in any combination. Likewise, features described in non-essential combinations may be used separately (not in combination).

It will be appreciated that many of the features described above, particularly of the preferred embodiments, are inventive in their own right and not just as part of an embodiment of the present invention. Independent protection may be sought for these features in addition to or alternative to any invention presently claimed.

The invention will now be described in more detail by reference to the following examples, which are illustrative only and do not limit the scope of the invention.

EXAMPLES Synthesis of Organic Semiconductor Materials 1. Synthesis of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 1

To a flame-dried flask fitted with mechanical stirrer, nitrogen inlet and outlet, condenser and suba-seal was added isopropylmagnesium chloride (2M in THF (10 molar equivalents based on 6,13-pentacenequinone)). This solution was cooled using a cold-water bath to act as a cold trap to absorb any exotherm during the triisopropylsilyl acetylene addition. Triisopropylsilyl acetylene (10.1 molar equivalents based on 6,13-pentacenequinone) was added to the reaction flask drop-wise over 30 minutes followed by the addition of THF (10 ml for every 10 mmol of TIPS acetylene). The cold-water bath was removed and the solution heated at 60° C. for 20 minutes. The flask was then allowed to cool to room temperature. 6,13-Pentacenequinone (1 molar equivalent) was added to the Grignard reagent and the resulting cloudy suspension was heated at 60° C. until the reaction was deemed complete according to HPLC, (up to 3 hours). The flask was allowed to cool to room temperature. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with tin (II) chloride was added cautiously to the brown/red reaction solution until the solution no longer exothermed on addition. (It was noted that as the tin (II) chloride solution was added, the reaction solution turned from brown/red to a deep blue colour). The resulting solution was heated at 60° C. for 30 minutes before cooling to room temperature. This crude mixture was isolated from a water/DCM mixture drying the organic phase over magnesium sulphate (MgSO₄) before filtering and concentrating under vacuum to give a blue/black solid. Purification by column chromatography (silica gel, 5% DCM in hexane) followed by recrystallisation from acetone yielded the title compound as dark blue plates.

2. Alternative Route to the Synthesis of 6,13-bis(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl pentacene Compound 1

To a flame-dried flask was added (triisopropylsilyl)acetylene (6 molar equivalents (2.18 ml, 9.72 mmol)) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (15 ml) and the solution cooled to −78° C. 2.5M n-butyllithium in hexane (5.5 molar equivalents (3.56 ml, 8.91 mmol)) was then added drop-wise over 20 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at −78° C. for a further 45 minutes. 6,13-Pentacenequinone (1 molar equivalent (0.50 g, 1.62 mmol)) was added and the reaction mixture was allowed to warm up to room temperature with stirring overnight. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (5 ml) was then added at room temperature and the reaction mixture stirred at 50° C. for 30 minutes. On cooling, 2M aqueous Na₂CO₃ (5 ml) was added and the resulting crude solution was filtered through celite and then concentrated under vacuum. Purification by chromatography (flash silica, hexane:DCM, 95:5) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a dark blue powder (0.73 g, 70%) and was greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 9.30 (4H, s, H—Ar), 7.95 (4H, m, H—Ar), 7.41 (4H, m, H—Ar) and 1.42 ppm (42H, m, H-aliphatic); ¹³C NMR (CDCl₃) δ 132.48, 130.83, 128.89, 126.52, 126.23, 118.56, 107.38, 104.90, 19.22 and 11.89 ppm.

3. Synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 4 3a. Synthesis of 4,5-dimethylphthalaldehyde—Compound 2

To a solution of oxalyl chloride 2M in dichloromethane (DCM) (26.5 ml, 53.0 mmol, 2.2 molar equivalents) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a solution of dimethylsulfoxide (DMSO) (7.5 ml, 105.8 mmol, 4.4 molar equivalents) in DCM (10 ml). The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 5 minutes and 4,5-dimethylbenzene-1,2-dimethanol (4.0 g, 24.1 mmol, 1.0 molar equivalent) dissolved in a mixture of DCM-DMSO (2 ml-4 ml) was added dropwise. The solution was stirred for 1 hour at −78° C. and triethylamine (20 ml) was slowly added at −78° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at −78° C. and slowly warmed up to room temperature. Ice-cold water (100 ml) was added to the reaction mixture and the aqueous layer extracted with DCM (3 times 100 ml). The organic fractions were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuum to give a brown oil. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent:hexane-ethyl acetate 8:2) gave the title compound as white needles (3.2 g, 82%). ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 2.42 (s, 6H) 7.73 (s, 2H) 10.50 (s, 2H).

3b. Synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-6,13-pentacenequinone—Compound 3

To a solution of 4,5-dimethylphthalaldehyde (Compound 2) (1.59g, 9.8 mmol, 2 molar equivalents) and 1,4-cyclohexanedione (0.54 g, 4.8 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) in ethanol (150 ml) was added a solution of 5% aqueous NaOH (3 ml) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature and then warmed to 60° C. After 1 hour at 60° C., the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with water (25 ml), ethanol (50 ml) and diethyl ether (50 ml) to give the title compound as a yellow powder (1.63 g, 93%). IR (selected bands) 1672 (quinone), 1579, 1452, 1396, 1221, 738 cm⁻¹.

3c. Synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 4

To a solution of triisopropylsilylethynyl (3.7 ml, 16.4 mmol, 6 molar equivalents) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (100 ml) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a 2.5M solution of n-butyllithium in hexane (6 ml, 15 mmol, 5.5 molar equivalents). The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 45 minutes and 2,3,9,10-tetramethyl-6,13-pentacenequinone (Compound 3) (1 g, 2.7 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) was added. The reaction mixture was warmed up and stirred overnight at room temperature. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (10 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 45 minutes. On cooling, a solution of 2M aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (10 ml) was added and the resulting solution stirred with celite for 5 minutes. The solution was filtered through celite and concentrated under vacuum to give a dark blue solid. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent, hexane:DCM 6:4) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a dark blue powder (0.8 g, 42%). Greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 1.36-1.39 (m, 42H) 7.67 (s, 4H) 9.12 (s, 4H); ¹³C NMR (125.77 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 11.72, 19.04, 20.56, 105.11, 106.23, 117.68, 124.49, 127.09, 130.42, 131.84, 136.37

4. Synthesis of 5,11-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)anthra[2,3-b:6,7-b′]dithiophene—Compound 7 and 5,11-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)anthra[2,3-b:7,6-b′]dithiophene—Compound 8 4a. Synthesis of Anthra[2,3-b:6,7-b′]dithiophene-5,11-dione—Compound 5 and Anthra[2,3-b:7,6-b′]dithiophene-5,11-dione—Compound 6

To a solution of thiophene-2,3-dicarbaldehyde (1.00 g, 7.1 mmol, 2 molar equivalents) and 1,4-cyclohexanedione (0.40 g, 3.6 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) in ethanol (100 ml) was added a solution of 5% aqueous NaOH (3 ml) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature and then warmed to 60° C. After 1 hour at 60° C., the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with water (20 ml), ethanol (40 ml) and diethyl ether (40 ml) to give the title compound as a yellow powder (1.02 g, 89%). IR (selected bands) 1667 (quinone), 1573, 1318, 1283 cm⁻¹.

4b. Synthesis of 5,11-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)anthra[2,3-b:6,7-b′]dithiophene—Compound 7 and 5,11-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)anthra[2,3-b:7,6-b′]dithiophene—Compound 8

To a solution of triisopropylsilylacetylene (2.1 ml, 9.4 mmol, 6 molar equivalents) in tetrahydrofuran (THF) (50 ml) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a 2.5M solution of n-butyllithium in hexane (3.4 ml, 8.5 mmol, 5.5 molar equivalents). The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 45 minutes and anthradithiophene-5,11-diones (Compounds 5 and 6) (0.5 g, 1.6 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) were added. The reaction mixture was warmed and stirred overnight at room temperature. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (5 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 45 minutes. On cooling, a solution of 2M aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (5 ml) was added and the resulting solution was stirred with celite for 5 minutes. The solution was filtered through celite and concentrated under vacuum to give a dark red solid. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent, hexane:DCM 8:2) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a dark red powder (0.45 g, 44%). Greater than 99% pure by HPLC (Syn and anti isomers co-elute). ¹H NMR (500.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm) 1.37-1.39 (s, 42H) 7.42 (d, J=5.50 Hz, 2H) 7.54 (dd, J₁=5.50, J₂=2.00 Hz, 2H) 9.15 (s, 2H) 9.19 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (125.77 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 11.26, 11.65, 18.74, 18.96, 104.13, 104.20, 105.61, 105.89, 106.16, 117.62, 118.92, 120.02, 120.06, 121.31, 121.37, 123.75, 129.76, 129.78, 129.85, 129.88, 129.96, 130.06, 139.46, 139.61, 139.96, 140.06

5. Synthesis of 6,13-bis(trimethylsilyl)ethynyl pentacene—Compound 9

To a flame-dried flask was added (trimethylsilyl)acetylene (6 molar equivalents (13.7 ml, 97.3 mmol)) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (110 ml) and the solution cooled to −78° C. 2.5M n-butyllithium in hexane (5.5 molar equivalents (36.0 ml, 89.2 mmol)) was then added drop-wise over 20 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at −78° C. for a further 45 minutes. 6,13-Pentacenequinone (1 molar equivalent (5.0 g, 16.2 mmol)) was then added and the reaction mixture allowed to warm up to room temperature with stirring overnight. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (50 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 30 minutes. On cooling, 2M aqueous Na₂CO₃ (50 ml) was added and the resulting crude solution was filtered through celite and then concentrated under vacuum. Purification by chromatography (flash silica, hexane:DCM, 80:20) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a dark blue powder (3.8 g, 50%) and was greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 9.21 (4H, s, H—Ar), 8.05 (4H, m, H—Ar), 7.42 (4H, m, H—Ar) and 0.53 ppm (18H, s, H-aliphatic).

6. Synthesis of 6,13-bis(triethylsilyl)ethynyl pentacene—Compound 10

To a flame-dried flask was added isopropylmagnesium chloride (2M solution in THF; 10 molar equivalents (13.7 ml, 27.4 mmol)) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (60 ml). Triethylsilylacetylene (10 molar equivalents, 5.6 ml, 31.3 mmol) was then added dropwise. The mixture was then heated to reflux for 20 minutes. The resulting solution was allowed to cool to room temperature and 6,13 pentacenequinone (1 molar equivalent (1.0 g, 3.24 mmol)) was added. The reaction mixture was then heated to reflux for 1 hour before allowing to cool to room temperature. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (50 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 30 minutes. On cooling, saturated potassium hydrogen carbonate solution (KHCO₃) (25 ml) was added and the resulting crude solution was filtered through celite and then concentrated under vacuum. Purification by flash column chromatography (eluent 20% CH₂Cl₂:hexane) followed by washing with acetone gave the title compound as a dark blue powder (1.1 g, 61%) that was greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹ H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 9.25 (4K, s, H—Ar), 8.00 (4H, m, H—Ar), 7.40 (4H, m, H—Ar) 1.30 (18H, t, J=6.0 Hz, SiCH₂CH ₃) 0.98 ppm (12H, q, J=6.0 Hz, SiCH ₂CH₃).

7,6,13-bis(4′-pentylphenyl)ethynyl pentacene—Compound 11

To a flame-dried flask was added isopropylmagnesium chloride (2M solution in THF; 10 molar equivalents (32.4 ml, 64,8 mmol)) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (60 ml). 1-ethynyl-4-pentylbenzene (10 molar equivalents, 12.4 mL, 63.7 mmol) was then added dropwise. The mixture was then heated to reflux for 20 minutes. The resulting solution was allowed to cool to room temperature and pentacenequinone (1 molar equivalent (2.0 g, 6.5 mmol)) was added. The reaction mixture was then heated to reflux for 30 minutes. The mixture was allowed to cool to room temperature. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (20 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 30 minutes. On cooling, saturated Na₂CO₃ solution (50 ml) was added slowly. The material was transferred to a 1 L separating funnel, then water (100 ml) and CH₂Cl₂ (50 ml) were added. The organic and aqueous phases were separated and the aqueous phase was extracted with CH₂Cl₂ (3×50 ml). The combined organic phases were then washed with water (100 ml), filtered through a Whatman No. 1 filter paper and concentrated to give a blue solid. This material was stirred with acetone (50 ml) and filtered to give a blue solid. (3.0 g, 75%). 1 g of this material was purified by flash column chromatography (flash silica, eluent 40% CH₂Cl₂:hexane) to give the product as a blue solid (0.8 g, 80% recovery) that was greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (300 MHz, CDCl₃) δ 9.20 (4H, s, H—Ar), 7.90 (4H, m, H—Ar), 7.35 (4H, m, H—Ar) 2.73 (4H, t, J=6.0 Hz, —C CCH ₂—) 1.72 (4H, m, C CCH₂CH2—), 1.40 (8H, m, C CCH₂CH₂CH ₂CH ₂—), 0.95 ppm (12H, t, J=3.0Hz, CH₂CH ₃).

8. Synthesis of Naphtho[2,1,8-gra]naphthacene-7,12-(triisopropylsilyl)ethynyl—Compound 12

To a flame-dried flask was added (triisopropylsilyl)acetylene (6 molar equivalents (2.03 ml, 9.03 mmol)) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (50 ml) this solution was cooled to −78° C. 2.5M n-butyllithium in hexanes (5.5 molar equivalents (5.16 ml, 8.25 mmol)) was added drop-wise over 20 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at −78° C. for a further 45 minutes. Naphtho[2,1,8-qra]naphthacene-7,12-dione (1 molar equivalent (0.50 g, 1.50 mmol)) was then added and the reaction mixture allowed to warm up to room temperature with stirring overnight. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (10 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 30 minutes. On cooling, 2M aqueous Na₂CO₃ (5 ml) was added and the resulting crude solution was filtered through celite and then concentrated under vacuum. Purification by chromatography (flash silica, hexane:DCM, 95:5) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a red powder (0.23 g, 23%) and was greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 11.09 (1H, d, H—Ar), 9.30 (1H, s, H—Ar), 9.08 (1H, m, H—Ar), 8.80 (1H, m, H—Ar), 8.20 (2H, m, H—Ar), 7.95 (2H, m, H—Ar), 7.82 (2H, m, H—Ar), 7.71 (2H, m, H—Ar) and 1.47-1.25 ppm (42H, m, H-aliphatic).

9. Synthesis of 5,14-(Triisopropylsilyl)acetylene pentacene—Compound 14 9a. Synthesis of 5,14-Pentacenequinone—Compound 13

To a flame-dried flask was added 2,3-naphthalenedicarboxaldehyde (1 molar equivalent (0.29 g, 1.57 mmol)) and 1,4-dihydroxynaphthalene (1 molar equivalent (0.25 g, 1.57 mmol)) these reagents were flushed with nitrogen for 15 minutes before anhydrous pyridine (5 ml) was added. The resulting solution was stirred at 120° C. with stirring for 24 hours. On cooling, the solid product was filtered off and washed successively with methanol (10 ml), 10% copper sulphate solution (10 ml), water (10 ml) and acetone (10 ml) and dried in vacuum oven. The product was an orange/brown solid (0.14 g, 29%) and was greater than 90% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (D8-THF) δ 9.09 (2H, s, H—Ar), 8.87 (2H, s, H—Ar), 8.38 (2H, m, H—Ar), 8.15 (2H, m, H—Ar), 7.87 (2H, m, H—Ar) and 7.61 ppm (2H, m, H—Ar).

9b. Synthesis of 5,14-(Triisopropylsilyl)acetylene pentacene—Compound 14

To a flame-dried flask was added (triisopropylsilyl)acetylene (6 molar equivalents (1.31 ml, 5.84 mmol)) and tetrahydrofuran (THF) (110 ml) and the solution cooled to −78° C. 2.5M n-butyllithium in hexane (5.5 molar equivalents (3.34 ml, 5.35 mmol)) was added drop-wise over 20 minutes. The resulting solution was stirred at −78° C. for a further 45 minutes, 5,14-Pentacenequinone (Compound (13)) (1 molar equivalent (0.30 g, 0.97 mmol)) was then added and the reaction mixture allowed to warm up to room temperature with stirring overnight. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (5 ml) was then added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 30 minutes. On cooling, 2M aqueous Na₂CO₃ (5 ml) was added and the resulting crude solution was filtered through celite and then concentrated under vacuum. Purification by chromatography (flash silica, hexane:DCM, 90:10) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a dark blue powder (0.22 g, 35%) and found to be greater than 99% pure by HPLC. ¹H NMR (CDCl₃) δ 9.58 (2H, s, H—Ar), 8.68 (2H, s, H—Ar), 8.55 (2H, m, H—Ar), 8.00 (2H, m, H—Ar), 7.50 (2H, m, H—Ar), 7.39 (2H, m, H—Ar) and 1.45-1.25 ppm (42H, m, H-aliphatic).

10. Synthesis of 1,8-difluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 19 and 1,11-difluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 20 10a. Synthesis of 3-Fluorobenzene-1,2-dimethanol—Compound 15

To a solution of LiAlH₄ (1M in tetrahydrofuran) (54 ml, 54.0 mmol, 2.0 molar equivalents), cooled to −78° C., was added dropwise a solution of 3-fluorophtalic acid (5.0 g, 27.2 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) in THF (25 ml). The reaction mixture was allowed to warm up to room temperature and then stirred at 70° C. for 2 hours. To this resulting solution, cooled at 0° C. was added a 2M sodium hydroxide solution (25 ml) followed by cold water (25 ml) and THF (50ml). The reaction mixture was then further extracted with THF (3×50 ml). The organic fractions were combined, washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuum to give a light yellow solid. Purification by recrystallisation from acetone/hexane gave the title compound as white needles (3.3 g, 79%). ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, DMSO) δ(ppm) 4.53 (dd, J₁=5.50, J₂=2.00 Hz, 2H) 4.67 (d, J=5.50 Hz, 2H) 4.98 (t, J=5.50 Hz, 1H) 5.22 (t, J=5.50 Hz, 1H) 7.00-7.10 (m, 1H) 7.25-7.35 (m, 2H). ¹⁹F NMR (282.38 MHz, DMSO) δ(ppm) −119.92 (s). ¹³C NMR (75.48 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 52.63, 60.07, 113.26, 122.81, 128.69, 144.02, 158.64, 161.87.

10b. Synthesis of 3-Fluorophthalaldehyde—Compound 16

To a solution of oxalyl chloride 2M in dichloromethane (DCM) (11 m1, 22 mmol, 2.2 molar equivalents) cooled to −78° C., was added dropwise a solution of dimethylsulfoxyde (DMSO) (3.10 ml, 44 mmol, 4.4 molar equivalents) in DCM (10 ml). The solution was then stirred at −78° C. for 5 minutes and 3-fluorobenzene-1,2-dimethanol (Compound 17) (1.55 g, 10 mmol, 1.0 molar equivalent) dissolved in a mixture of DCM-DMSO (1-2 ml) added dropwise. The solution was then stirred for 1 hour at −78° C. and triethylamine (25 ml) was slowly added at −78° C. The reaction mixture was then stirred for 10 minutes at −78° C. and slowly warmed up to room temperature. Ice-cold water (50 ml) was added to the reaction. mixture and the aqueous layer extracted with DCM (3 times 50 mls). The organic fractions A were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuum to give a brown oil. Purification by distillation gave the title compound as a light yellow solid (1.10 g, 73%) ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 7.36-7.50 (m, 1H) 7.69-7.79 (m, 2H) 10.51 (s, 1H) 10.57 (s, 1H). ¹⁹F NMR (282.38 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) −118.90 (s).

10c. Synthesis of 1,8-difluoro-6,13-pentacenequinone—Compound 17 and 1,11-difluoro-6,13-pentacenequinone—Compound 18

To a solution of 3-fluorophthalaldehyde (Compound 18) (0.42 g, 2.8 mmol, 2 molar equivalents) and 1,4-cyclohexanedione (0.15 g, 1.4 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) in ethanol (45 ml) was added a solution of 5% aqueous NaOH (0.6 ml) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred 30 minutes at room temperature and then warmed to 60° C. After 1 hour at 60° C., the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with water (15 ml), ethanol (30 ml) and diethyl ether (30 ml) to give the tide compounds as a yellow powder (0.40 g, 87%) used as obtained. ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, CDCl₃, trifluoroacetic acid) δ(ppm) 7.35-7.47 (m, 1H) 7.72 (td, J₁=8.03, J₂=5.32 Hz, 1H) 7.97 (d, J=8.22 Hz, 1H) 8.99-9.04 (m, 1H) 9.23-9.27 (m, 1H). ¹⁹F NMR (282.38 MHz, CDCl₃, trifluoroacetic acid) δ(ppm) −118.60 (s). IR (selected bands) 1681 (quinone), 1627, 1443, 1287, 791, 747 cm⁻¹.

10d. Synthesis of 1,8-difluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 19 and 1,11-difluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 20

To a solution of triisopropylsilylacetylene (1.2 m, 5.3 mmol, 6 molar equivalents) in THF (30 ml) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a 2.5M solution of n-butyllithium in hexane (1.9 ml, 4.8 mmol, 5.5 molar equivalents). The solution was then stirred at −78° C. for 45 minutes and the difluoro-6,13-pentacenequinones (Compounds 17 and 18) (0.3 g, 0.9 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) added. The reaction mixture was then warmed up and stirred overnight at room temperature. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (3 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 45 minutes. On cooling, a solution of 2M aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (3 ml) was added. The resulting solution was filtered through celite and concentrated under vacuum to give a dark red solid. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent, hexane:DCM 9:1) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compounds as a dark blue powder (0.38 g, 65%) greater than 99% pure by HPLC (Syn and anti isomers co-elute). ¹H NMR (500.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm) 1.35-1.39 (m, 42H) 7.03-7.09 (m, 2H) 7.25-7.37 (m, 2H) 7.77 (d, J=8.77 Hz, 2H) 9.33 (s, 2H) 9.60 (s, 2H); ¹³C NMR (75.48 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 11.64, 18.88, 18.93, 104.10, 104.24, 107.71, 107.75, 108.02, 108.24, 120.27, 124.62, 125.27, 125.37, 126.35, 126.47, 130.43, 130.88, 157.27, 160.67.

11. Synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoro-6,3-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 24 11a. Synthesis of 4,5-Difluorobenzene-1,2-dimethanol—Compound 21

To a solution of LiAlH₄ (1M in tetrahydrofuran) (11 ml, 11.0 mmol, 2.0 molar equivalents) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a solution of 4,5-difluorophtalic anhydrid (1.0 g, 5.4 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) in THF (5 ml). The reaction mixture was allowed to warm up to room temperature and then stirred at 70° C. for 2 hours. To this resulting solution cooled to 0° C. was added a 2M sodium hydroxide solution (5 ml) followed by cold water (5 ml) and THF (10 ml). The reaction mixture was then further extracted with THF (3 times 20 ml). The organic fractions were combined, washed with brine, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuum to give a light yellow solid. Purification by recrystallisation from acetone/hexane gave the title compound as light yellow needles (0.8 g, 85%). ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, DMSO) δ(ppm) 4.47 (d, J=5.30, 4H) 5.26 (t, J=5.30 Hz, 2H) 7.36 (t, J=10.10 Hz, 2H). ¹⁹F NMR (282.38 MHz, DMSO) δ(ppm) −142.27 (s).

11b. Synthesis of 4,5-Difluorophthalaldehyde—Compound 22

To a solution of oxalyl chloride 2M in dichloromethane (DCM) (4.5 ml, 8.8 mmol, 2.2 molar equivalents) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a solution of dimethylsulfoxyde (DMSO) (1.25 ml, 17.7 mmol, 4.4 molar equivalents) in DCM (5 ml). The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 5 minutes and 4,5-difluorobenzene-1,2-dimethanol (compound 21) (0.70 g, 4.0 mmol, 1.0 molar equivalent) dissolved in a mixture of DCM/DMSO (1-2 ml) was added dropwise. The solution was stirred for 1 hour at −78° C. and triethylamine (15 ml) was slowly added at −78° C. The reaction mixture was stirred for 10 minutes at −78° C. and slowly warmed up to room temperature. Ice-cold water (25 ml) was added to the reaction mixture and the aqueous layer extracted with DCM (3 times 30 ml). The organic fractions were combined, dried over magnesium sulfate, filtered and concentrated in vacuum to give a yellow oil. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent, hexane:DCM 2:8) gave the title compound as a light yellow solid (0.58 g, 85%). ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) 7.83 (t, J=9.00 Hz, 2H) 10.49 (s, 2H). ¹⁹F NMR (282.38 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) −127.10 (s).

11c. Synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoro-6,13-pentacenequinone—Compound 23

To a solution of 4,5-difluorophthalaldehyde (Compound 22)(0.48 g, 2.8 mmol, 2 molar equivalents) and 1,4-cyclohexanedione (0.16 g, 1.4 mmol, 1 molar equivalent) in ethanol (40 ml) was added a solution of 5% aqueous NaOH (0.6 ml) at room temperature. The reaction mixture was stirred for 30 minutes at room temperature and then warmed to 60° C. After 1 hour at 60° C., the reaction mixture was cooled to room temperature. The resulting precipitate was filtered, washed with water (15 ml), ethanol (30 ml) and diethyl ether (30 ml) to give the title compound as a yellow powder (0.35 g, 64%) used as obtained.

11d. Synthesis of 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoro-6,13-bis(triisopropylsilylethynyl)pentacene—Compound 24

To a solution of triisopropylsilylacetylene (0.7 ml, 3.2 mmol, 6 molar equivalents) in THF (20 ml) cooled to −78° C. was added dropwise a 2.5M solution of n-butyllithium in hexane (1.2 ml, 2.9 mmol, 5.5 molar equivalents). The solution was stirred at −78° C. for 45 minutes followed by the addition of 2,3,9,10-tetrafluoro-6,13-pentacenequinone (Compound 23)(0.2 g, 0.5 mmol, 1 molar equivalent). The reaction mixture was then allowed to warm up to room temperature overnight. A solution of 10% aqueous HCl saturated with SnCl₂ (2 ml) was added at room temperature and the reaction mixture was stirred at 50° C. for 45 minutes. On cooling, a solution of 2M aqueous solution of Na₂CO₃ (2 ml) was added. The resulting solution was filtered through celite and concentrated under vacuum to give a dark blue solid. Purification by column chromatography on silica gel (eluent, hexane:DCM 9:1) followed by an acetone wash gave the title compound as a dark blue powder (0.13 g, 35%). ¹H NMR (300.13 MHz, CDCl₃) δ (ppm) 1.32-1.44 (m, 42H) 7.63 (t, J=9.00 Hz, 4H) 9.20 (t, 4H); ¹⁹F NMR (282.38 MHz, CDCl₃) δ(ppm) −134.01 (s).

Examples 12 to 15 Mobility Measurements for OFETs Prepared in the Absence and Presence of a (Polymeric) Binder

Determination of the Field Effect Mobility

The field effect mobility of the following organic semiconductor materials was tested using the techniques described by Holland et al, J. Appl. Phys. Vol. 75, p. 7954 (1994).

In the following examples a test field effect transistor was manufactured by using a PEN substrate upon which were patterned Pt/Pd source and drain electrodes by standard techniques, for example shadow masking. Semiconductor formulations were prepared using compound 1 (example 12) and compound 4 (example 14) blended with an inert polymeric binder resin (poly(alpha-methylstyrene)(p-αMS)). The semiconductor formulations were then dissolved one part into 99 parts of solvent (toluene for examples 12 and 13, 1,2-dichlorobenzene for examples 14 and 15), and spin coated onto the substrate at 500 rpm for 18 seconds. To ensure complete drying, the samples were placed in an oven for 20 minutes at 100° C. For comparison, films of the pure organic semiconductor compound (OSC) in the absence of binder were coated onto the substrates by spin coating (comparative example 13 for compound 1 and comparative example 15 for compound 4). These samples were then also dried in an oven for 20 minutes at 100° C. The insulator material (Cytop 107M, available from Asahi Glass) was mixed 3 parts to 2 parts of perfluorosolvent (FC75, Acros catalogue number 12380) and then spin-coated onto the semiconductor giving a thickness typically of approximately 1 μm. The samples were placed once more in an oven at 100° C. for 20 minutes to evaporate solvent from the insulator. A gold gate contact was defined over the device channel area by evaporation through a shadow mask. To determine the capacitance of the insulator layer a number of devices were prepared which consisted of a non-patterned Pt/Pd base layer, an insulator layer prepared in the same way as that on the FET device, and a top electrode of known geometry. The capacitance was measured using a hand-held multimeter, connected to the metal either side of the insulator. Other defining parameters of the transistor are the length of the drain and source electrodes facing each other (W=30 mm) and their distance from each other (L=130 μm).

The voltages applied to the transistor are relative to the potential of the source electrode. In the case of a p-type gate material, when a negative potential is applied to the gate, positive charge carriers (holes) are accumulated in the semiconductor on the other side of the gate dielectric. (For an n-channel FET, positive voltages are applied). This is called the accumulation mode. The capacitance per unit area of the gate dielectric C_(l) determines the amount of the charge thus induced. When a negative potential V_(DS) is applied to the drain, the accumulated carriers yield a source-drain current I_(DS) which depends primarily on the density of accumulated carriers and, importantly, their mobility in the source-drain channel. Geometric factors such as the drain and source electrode configuration, size and distance also affect the current. Typically a range of gate and drain voltages are scanned during the study of the device. The source-drain current is described by Equation 1. $\begin{matrix} {{I_{DS} = {{\frac{\mu\quad{WC}_{1}}{L}\left( {{\left( {V_{G} - V_{0}} \right)V_{DS}} - \frac{V_{DS}^{2}}{2}} \right)} + I_{\Omega}}},} & {{Equation}\quad 1} \end{matrix}$ where V₀ is an offset voltage and I_(Ω) is an ohmic current independent of the gate voltage and is due to the finite conductivity of the material. The other parameters have been described above.

For the electrical measurements the transistor sample was mounted in a sample holder. Microprobe connections were made to the gate, drain and source electrodes using Karl Suss PH100 miniature probe-heads. These were linked to a Hewlett-Packard 4155B parameter analyser. The drain voltage was set to −5 V and the gate voltage was scanned from +20 to −60V and back to +20V in 1 V steps. In accumulation, when |V_(G)|>|V_(DS)| the source-drain current varies linearly with V_(G). Thus the field effect mobility can be calculated from the gradient (S) of I_(DS) vs. V_(G) given by Equation 2. $\begin{matrix} {S = \frac{\mu\quad{WC}_{i}V_{DS}}{L}} & {{Equation}\quad 2} \end{matrix}$

All field effect mobilities quoted below were calculated using this regime (unless stated otherwise). Where the field effect mobility varied with gate voltage, the value was taken as the highest level reached in the regime where |V_(G)|>|V_(DS)| in accumulation mode. The values quoted in Table 4 are an average taken over several devices (fabricated on the same substrate), the sample size for the number of devices tested is also quoted in Table 4. An example of the current-voltage and mobility-voltage characteristics for Example 12 is shown in FIG. 1. The forward and reverse scans illustrate the low current hysteresis of the device. The results show the excellent charge mobility of OFET devices when a binder is used with the organic semiconductor material tested. When a binder is not used, there is considerable variation in the mobility measured for devices coated on the same substrate. This fact is reflected in the large standard deviation (as a % of the mean value) of the mobility values for the OFETs coated on the same substrate. TABLE 4 OFET performance of semiconductor formulations prepared with and without binder material OSC and binder solids content in Mobility Organic coating OSC: Binder [cm²/Vs] Example Semiconducting solution (by Ratio (+/−1 std. Sample number Material (OSC) weight) Binder (wt:wt) dev.) Size 12 Compound 1 1% p-αMS 50:50 0.433 (+/− 9 (example 1) 0.19) 13 Compound 1 1% — 100:0  0.14 (+/− 6 (compar 0.14) ative) 14 Compound 4 1% p-αMS 50:50 1.1 (+/− 15 (example 3) 0.4) 15 Compound 4 1% — 100:0  0.11 (+/− 7 (compar 0.14) ative)

The results in Table 4 demonstrate that there is a substantial improvement in the mobility values and uniformity of OFETs when a (polymeric) binder is used in a formulation for an OFET device. The improvement in uniformity is illustrated by the small standard deviation (Std.dev.) of the mobility results as a proportion of the mean value for the examples with binder (examples 12 and 14). This is in contrast to examples 13 and 15 were no binder was employed which show a large standard deviation (as a proportion of the mean value).

Examples 16 to 26 Mobility Measurements for OFETs Prepared using a Range of Polymeric Binders

OFETs were prepared using the method as described for examples 12 to 15 with the exception that different polymeric binders were used. TABLE 5 Mobility measurements for OFETs prepared using a range of polymeric binders Organic semi- Binder mixed at OSC & binder solids Permittivity Example conducting 1:1 (by weight) content in coating solution Mobility [cm²/Vs] Sample of binder ε number material (OSC) with polyacene (by weight) Solvent (+/− 1 std. dev.) size 1kHz 12 Compound 1 p-αMS 1% toluene 0.433 (+/−0.19) 9 2.6^(a) 14 Compound 4 p-αMS 1% 1,2-Dichloro- 1.1 (+/−0.4) 15 2.6^(a) benzene 16 Compound 1 Topas 8007 4% Ethylcyclohe 0.26 (+/−0.090) 7 2.2-2.3^(b) xane 17 Compound 1 Topas 8007 4% Anisole 0.26 (+/−0.082) 5 2.2-2.3^(b) 18 Compound 1 PS (1M) 4% p-xylene 0.20 (+/−0.085) 8 2.5^(a) 19 Compound 1 p-4-MS 4% p-xylene 0.26 (+/−0.11) 5 2.7^(c) 20 Compound 1 PS-co-αMS 4% p-xylene 0.21 (+/−0.19) 5 2.5-2.6^(a) 21 Compound 4 poly(vinyl- 1% 1,2-Dichloro- 1.4 ± 0.47 8 2.9^(c) cinnamate) benzene 22 Compound 1 PMMA 4% Acetone 0.0029 (+/− 6 3.5^(d) (comparative) 0.0025) 23 Compound 1 PVP 1% Acetone No FET mobility 4.5^(e) (comparative) was observed 24 Compound 1 PVA 1% Acetone No FET mobility 10.4^(a) (comparative) was observed 25 Compound 4 poly(4- 1% 1,2-Dichloro- 1.0 ± 0.66 8 2.7^(c) vinylbiphenyl) benzene 26 Isomeric mixture p-αMS 1% toluene 0.16 (+/−0.025) 4 2.6^(a) of Compounds 19 and 20 Topas ™ 8007 - ex. Ticona (linear olefin and cycloolefin(norbornene)copolymer), (examples 16 and 17); PS (1M) - polystyrene M_(w) = 1,000,000 Aldrich catalogue number 48,080-0, (example 18); p-4-MS - poly-4-methylstyrene Aldrich catalogue number 18,227-3, (example 19) PS-co-αMS - Polystyrene-co-alpha-methyl styrene Aldrich catalogue number 45,721-3, (example 20); poly(vinylcinnamate) Aldrich No: 18,264-8, (example 21) PMMA - polymethylmethacrylate Mn = 797, (example 22) PVP - poly-4-vinylphenol Aldrich catalogue number 43,622-4, (comparative example 23); PVA - polyvinylalcohol Aldrich catalogue number 36,316-2, (comparative example 24); poly(4-vinylbiphenyl) Aldrich catalogue number 18,254-0, (example 25); ^(a)Polymer Handbook (3^(rd) edition) Wiley and Sons (1989). ^(b)manufacturer's data ^(c)Obtained by measuring the capacitance and thickness of a film of binder between two metal electrodes and then calculating the dielectric constant ε using the relationship ε = Cd/E₀ A where C is capacitance, d is the film thickness, E₀ is the permittivity of free space, and A is the area of the capacitor. ^(d)Ficker et al., J. Appl. Phys. 2003 94 (4), 2638. ^(e)Stutzman et al. Science 2003, 299, 1881.

The results in Table 5 illustrate that binders with a permittivity value greater than 3.3 lower the mobility value significantly in an OFET device. Therefore preferred polymeric binders have a permittivity value of less than 3.3.

Examples 27 to 28

OFETs were prepared using the method as described for examples 12 to 15 above with the exception that the polymeric binder used was a semiconducting material rather than an insulating binder. The results are illustrated in Table 6. TABLE 6 Mobility measurements for OFETs prepared using a semiconducting binder OSC and binder Permittivity of Organic semi- Binder mixed at solids content in semiconducting Example conducting 1:1 (by weight) coating solution Mobility [cm²/Vs] Sample binder ε at number material (OSC) with polyacene (by weight) Solvent (+/−1 std. dev.) size 1 kHz 27 Compound 4 poly(9- 1% 1,2-Dichlorobenzene 1.44 ± 0.35 7 2.7* vinylcarbazol) 28 Compound 1 PTAA1 4% p-xylene 0.28 (+/−0.09) 7 2.9^(c) In Table 6, the poly(9-vinylcarbazol) is available from Aldrich, catalogue number: 18,260-5 (example 27). * - refers to Schaffert R. M. IBM Journal of Res. And Devel. Vol 15 No1, p79 (1971) ^(c) - has the same meanings as in Table 5. PTAA1 - is a triarylamine compound of Formula 18.

wherein n = 10.7 and Mn = 3100 (Adv. Funct. Mater. 2003, 13, No. 3. p199-204) The results in Table 6 illustrate that semiconducting binders may also be used to achieve OFET devices according to the present invention which demonstrate excellent mobility values.

Examples 29 to 31

OFETs were again prepared using the method as described for examples 12 to 15 above. However, in examples 29 to 31 the ratio of OSC material to binder was varied. Example 12 is also included for comparison. TABLE 7 Mobility measurements for OFETs prepared with varying quantities of binder to OSC material OSC and binder solids content in coating OSC: Organic solution Binder Example Semiconductlng (by Ratio Sample number Material (OSC) Binder weight) (wt:wt) Mobility [cm²/Vs] Size 12 Compound 1 p-αMS 1% 50:50 0.433 (+/−0.19) 9 29 Compound 1 p-αMS 1% 75:25 0.321 (+/−0.11) 7 30 Compound 1 p-αMS 1% 90:10 0.327 (+/−0.11) 6 31 Compound 1 p-αMS 1% 95:5  0.244 (+/−0.077) 8 The above results illustrate that excellent mobility values can be obtained for an OFET device even when the ratio of OSC material to binder is 50:50.

Examples 32 to 35 Mobility Measurements for OFETs Prepared with a Variation in the Solids Content

OFETs were again prepared using the method as described for examples 12 to 15 above with the exception that the solids content of the formulation was varied. TABLE 8 Variation of the solids content in a coating solution used to prepare an OFET OSC and Binder binder solids mixed at 1:1 content In Organic (by weight) coating Example semiconducting with solution Mobility [cm²/Vs] Sample number material (OSC) polyacene (by weight) (+/−1 std. dev.) size 32 Compound 1 p-αMS 0.5% 0.29 (+/− 0.23) 9 33 Compound 1 p-αMS   1% 0.40 (+/−0.14) 11 34 Compound 1 p-αMS   2% 0.39 (+/−0.15) 11 35 Compound 1 p-αMS   4% 0.53 (+/−0.07) 11 

1. A compound of formula 8

wherein R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁, R₁₅, R₁₆, R₁₇ each independently are the same or different and each independently represents: H; an optionally substituted C₁-C₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl group; a cyano group (—CN); a carbamoyl group (—C(═O)NH₂); a haloformyl group (—C(═O)—X, wherein X represents a halogen atom); a formyl group (—C(═O)—H); an isocyano group; an isocyanate group; a thiocyanate group or a thioisocyanate group; an optionally substituted amino group; a hydroxy group; a nitro group; a CF₃ group; a halo group (Cl, Br, F); or an optionally substituted silyl group; and wherein independently each pair of R₁ and R₂, R₂ and R₃, R₃ and R₄, R₇ and R₈, R₈ and R₉, R₉ and R₁₀, R₁₀ and R₁₁, R₁₅ and R₁₆, and R₁₆ and R₁₇ is optionally cross-bridged with each other to form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, which saturated or unsaturated ring is optionally intervened by an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group —N(R_(a))— (wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group), or is optionally substituted, wherein A represents silicon or germanium, and wherein one or more of the carbon atoms of the polyacene skeleton is optionally substituted by a heteroatom selected from N, P, As, O, S, Se and Te, wherein a) at least one of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀, R₁₁ is different from H, and/or b) at least one pair of R₁ and R₂, R₂ and R₃, R₃ and R₄, R₇ and R₈, R₈ and R₉, R₉ and R₁₀, R₁₀ and R₁₁ is cross-bridged with each other to form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, which saturated or unsaturated ring is optionally intervened by an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group shown by formula: —N(R_(a))— (wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group), or is optionally substituted.
 2. A compound of claim 1, wherein one or more of R₁, R₂, R₃, R₄, R₈, R₉, R₁₀ and R₁₁ are each independently selected from optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic C₁₋₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups or halo (F, Cl, Br) groups.
 3. A compound of claim 2, wherein the carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups are each independently selected from a C₁-C₄₀ alkyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₄₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₄₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ polyenyl group, a C₆-C₁₈ aryl group, a C₆-C₄₀ alkylaryl group, a C₆-C₄₀ arylalkyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkyl group, a C₄-C₄₀ cycloalkenyl group, all of which are optionally substituted.
 4. A compound of claim 3, wherein the carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups are each independently selected from a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, a C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₁₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₁₀alkyldienyl group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group and a C₄-C₁₀ polyenyl group, all of which are optionally substituted.
 5. A compound of claim 3, wherein the substituents are selected from silyl, sulpho, sulphonyl, formyl, amino, imino, nitrilo, mercapto, cyano, nitro or halo (Cl, Br, F) groups.
 6. A compound of claim 1, wherein one or more of R₂, R₃, R₉ and R₁₀ are each independently selected from optionally substituted, saturated or unsaturated, cyclic or acyclic C₁₋₄₀ carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups or halo (F, Cl, Br) groups.
 7. A compound of claim 6, wherein the carbyl or hydrocarbyl groups are each independently selected from a C₁-C₁₀ alkyl group, a C₂-C₁₀ alkenyl group, a C₂-C₁₀ alkynyl group, a C₃-C₁₀ allyl group, a C₄-C₁₀ alkyldienyl group, a C₆-C₁₂ aryl group and a C₄-C₁₀ polyenyl group, all of which are optionally substituted.
 8. A compound of claim 7, wherein the substituents are selected from silyl, sulpho, sulphonyl, formyl, amino, imino, nitrilo, mercapto, cyano, nitro or halo (Cl, Br, F) groups.
 9. A compound of claim 1, wherein one or more pairs of R₁ and R₂, R₂ and R₃, R₃ and R₄, R₇ and R₈, R₈ and R₉, R₉ and R₁₀ and R₁₀ and R₁₁ are cross-bridged with each other to form a C₄-C₄₀ saturated or unsaturated ring, which saturated or unsaturated ring is optionally intervened by an oxygen atom, a sulphur atom or a group shown by formula: —N(R_(a))— (wherein R_(a) is a hydrogen atom or a hydrocarbon group), that is optionally substituted.
 10. A compound of claim 1, wherein one or more of the carbon atoms of the polyacene skeleton is optionally substituted by a heteratom selected from N, P, As, O, S, Se and Te.
 11. A compound of claim 1, selected from the following formulae

wherein R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are as defined in claim 1, and m and n are each independently 0, 1, 2, 3 or
 4. 12. A compound of claim 1, wherein R₁₅, R₁₆ and R₁₇ are selected from C₁₋₁₀ alkyl or C₆₋₁₀ aryl, which are optionally substituted with halogen atoms.
 13. A formulation comprising one or more compounds according to claim 1 and further comprising one or more solvents.
 14. A formulation of claim 13, wherein the solvent is selected from dichloromethane, trichloromethane, monochlorobenzene, o-dichlorobenzene, tetrahydrofuran, anisole, morpholine, toluene, o-xylene, m-xylene, p-xylene, 1,4-dioxane, acetone, methylethylketone, 1,2-dichloroethane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,1,2,2-tetrachloroethane, ethyl acetate, n-butyl acetate, dimethylformamide, dimethylacetamide, dimethylsulfoxide, tetralin, decalin and/or mixtures thereof.
 15. A formulation of claim 14, wherein the solvent is selected from xylene(s), toluene, tetralin and o-dichlorobenzene.
 16. A formulation for ink jet printing comprising one or more compounds according to claim 1 and further comprising one or more solvents selected from substituted and non-substituted xylene derivatives; di-C₁₋₂-alkyl formamide; substituted and non-substituted anisoles; substituted and non-substituted phenol-ether derivatives; substituted heterocycles; substituted pyridines; pyrazines; pyrimidines; pyrrolidinones; substituted and non-substituted N,N-di-C₁₋₂-alkylanilines; substituted and non-substituted fluorinated or chlorinated aromatics; benzene derivatives having a benzene ring substituted by one or more substituents wherein the total number of carbon atoms among the one or more substituents is at least three; dodecylbenzene; 1-methyl-4-tert-butylbenzene; terpineol; limonene; isodurene; terpinolene; cymene; or diethylbenzene.
 17. An electronic device comprising one or more compounds or a formulation according to claim
 1. 18. An electronic device according to claim 17, which is a field effect transistor (FET), organic light emitting diode (OLED), photodetector, chemical detector, photovoltaic cell (PVs), capacitor sensor, logic circuit, display or memory device. 